Ghazals of Ghalib - I

Originals in Urdu

Who could stop the maddening love of Laila?
The house of wandering Majnun in the desert had no doors.

maana((-e va;hshat-;xaraamiihaa-e lail;aa kaun hai
;xaanah-e majnuun-e .sa;hraa-gard be-darvaazah thaa

~Ghalib

***

How little is the world of crushed ones!
Even an ant’s egg appears to be a sky.

kyaa tang ham sitam-zadagaa;N kaa jahaan hai
jis me;N kih ek bai.zah-e mor aasmaan hai

~Ghalib

***

Though we reveled in crushing stone idols,
On our way there still stands another heavy stone.

har-chand subuk-dast hu))e but-shikanii me;N
ham hai;N to abhii raah me;N hai sang-e giraa;N aur

~Ghalib

***

They say people go on living on hope,
But I have no hope even of living.

kahte hai;N jiite hai;N ummiid pah log
ham ko jiine kii bhii ummiid nahii;N

~Ghalib

PS: The translations are mine.