Yeh hum jo hijr mai - Mirza Ghalib

yeh hum jo hijr mai deewar-o-dar ko dekhte hain

kabhi saaba ko kabhi nama’bar ko dekhte hain

wo aaein ghar mai hamare khuda ki qudrat hai

kabhi hum un ko kabhi apne ghar ko dekhte hain

nazar lage na kahin us ke dast-o-bazaboo ko

yeh log kiyu mere zakhm-e-jigar ko dekhte hain

tere jawahir-e-taraf-e-kala ko kiya dekhen

hum auj-e-talaa-e-laal-o-gohar ko dekhte hain

yeh hum jo hijr mai deewar-o-dar ko dekhte hain

kabhi saaba ko kabhi nama’bar ko dekhte hain

Line 1/2 - In the times of this separation from you, I keep looking absent minded at the doors and walls of my home. Sometimes I wait in anticipation of the messenger and sometimes for the wind coming from your direction for the winds coming may have some hint of you.

wo aaein ghar mai hamare khuda ki qudrat hai

kabhi hum un ko kabhi apne ghar ko dekhte hain

Line 3/4 - My lover has come to my house; it's a miracle from the God. I sometimes look at her, and sometimes I look at the ruins that are my only abode. Such beauty amid the desolation and ruins! How do I get to deserve this luck? This has to be a miracle from God.

nazar lage na kahin us ke dast-o-bazaboo ko

yeh log kiyu mere zakhm-e-jigar ko dekhte hain

Line 5/6 - May I not cast an evil eye looking at the lovely hand and shoulder of my beloved? Why do people look at my tortured heart (due to this unflinching love) and gossip about it? The poet says that he has been cautious to not stare at his beloved so as not to cast an evil eye and also catch the society's attention. Yet why do people not let me live peacefully?

tere jawahir-e-taraf-e-kala ko kiya dekhen

hum auj-e-talaa-e-laal-o-gohar ko dekhte hain

Line 7/8 - What to see/say about your jewelry and your golden belt and that crown of yours? The poet laments on the stark social differences between them and says that I see my luck and my position (lowly existence) on one hand and your opulent string of pearls and diamonds on the other.