nahi nigah maiN manzil

nahi nigah maiN manzil to justujoo he sahi
nahi visaal mayassar to arzoo he sahi

na tun maiN Khoon faraham, na ashk aankhooN maiN
namaz-e-shouq to wajib hai, bai_wuzoo he sahi

kisi tarah to jamay bazm maikadey walooN
nahi jo baad-o-saaGhar, to haa-o-hoo sahi

gar intizar kaThan hai to jab talak aaey dil
kisi ki waada-e-fardaa ki guftugoo he sahi

dayar-e-Ghair maiN mehram agar koi nahi
to "Faiz" zikr-e-watan apney rubaroo he sahi


Though the destination eludes sight- let the search be;
Though union defies attainment- let the longing be.[1]

The body lacks blood, the eyes lack moisture
-Yet the prayer of desire is obligatory, without purity it may be. [2]

Let the gathering come alive somehow- O those of the tavern,
If not goblets of wine, let lightheartedness and laughter be.[3]

If the wait is tough- then in the meantime, O heart,
On someone's promise of tomorrow - let conversation be. [4]

In this abode of strangers, if no confidant exists,
Faiz - let the invocation of homeland with yourself be.