Khuda Se Husn Ne Ek Roz Ye Sawal Kiya
Jahan Mein Kyun Na Mujhe Tu Ne La-Zawal Kiya
Beauty asked God one day
This question: ‘Why Didst Thou not make me, in Thy world, undying?’
Mila Jawab Ke Tasveer-e-Khana Hai Dunya
Shab-e-Daraz-e-Aadam Ka Fasana Hai Dunya
And God replying— ‘A picture‐show is this world:
All this world a tale out of the long night of not‐being;
Huwi Hai Rang-e-Taghiyar Se Jab Namood Uss Ki
Wohi Haseen Hai Haqiqat Zawal Hai Jis Ki
And in it, seeing tts nature works through mutability,
That only is lovely whose essence knows decay.’
Kahin Qareeb Tha, Ye Gutugu Qamar Ne Suni
Falak Pe Aam Huwi, Akhtar-e-Sehar Ne Suni
The moon stood near and heard this colloquy,
The words took wing about the sky and reached the morning‐star;
Sehar Ne Tare Se Sun Kar Sunayi Shabnam Ko
Falak Ki Baat Bata Di Zameen Ke Mehram Ko
Dawn learned them from its star, and told the dew—
It told the heavens’ whisper to Earth’s poor familiar;
Bhar Aye Phool Ke Ansu Payam-e-Shabnam Se
Kali Ka Nanha Sa Dil Khoon Ho Gya Gham Se
And at the dew’s report the flower’s eye filled,
With pain the new bud’s tiny heartbeat thrilled;
Chaman Se Rota Huwa Mousam-e-Bahar Gya
Shabab Sair Ko Aya Tha, Sogawar Gya
Springtime fled from the garden, weeping;
Youth, that had come to wander there, went creeping sadly away.