S. R. Faruqi:

(1) Listen to me! You found a hundred like me yet I found none like you.
You said hundreds of cruel things to me, I brought not a word to my lips.

(2) I roamed the world--just one person pleased mex and it was you.
You were pleased with everyone and the one man you couldn't like was me alone.

(3) Well, griefs boil over like this and rage; saturated clouds drip like tears.
But the one who let flow an ocean from his world-deluging eyes was I alone.

(4) Everyone boasted of their true love but none stayed the course.
The one who deliberately severed his heart from life was I alone.

(5) Everybody runs after the tangible, the apparent, so why should I deserve such affliction?
Is it, Lord, that the one guilty of loving the idols was I alone?

[The beloved is conventionally imagined as unresponsive, unhearing, cold; hence the beloveds are also cruel. Since the idols are also ideally beautiful and unresponsive and unhearing, the beloved is sometimes described as a but, or idol. Since loving idols and worshiping are practically the same, the lover is conceived as an idol worshiper and, therefore, infidel.]

(6) Yes, surely, there were many who dazzled like lightning
but were done for once we spoke a word or two.
Now like a cloud, pervading all creation, it is I alone.
(7) He became manifest in myriad hues and ways, but none moved from their place.
My heart had a wound from before, so I succumbed. I alone.

(8) Thousands derived benefit from this garden, and yet
he who never even for a moment saw even the shade of the rose or the cypress upon his head was I alone.

[Because of its straightness and because it is neither tall nor short , and it is evergreen , the sarv is the most widely used trope in Persian and Urdu for the beloved's stature. "Cypress" is the best available translation, though not ideal.]

(9) Friendship is an ancient custom and sometimes we do fall in love with each other
so am I to lose my head? I did give my heart away, but in doing so was I alone?

(10) Whoever set eyes upon her lost his senses but all regained them by and by.
Yet, Mir, the one who never returned to himself till his last breath was I alone.

 

FWP:

(inspired by SRF's translation)

(1) Oh, you found a hundred like me-- I never found one like you!
You said hundreds of cruel things to me-- I never once opened my mouth.

(2) I circled the world; the one who pleased me was you.
You were happy with everyone-- except me alone.

(3) There are turmoils of grief; many weep themselves out like clouds.
I alone wept a world-destroying flood.

(4) Everyone claimed to feel passion, but no one stuck with it.
I alone knowingly tore my heart away from my life.

(5) Everyone seeks beauty, so why should I have to endure such torment?
Oh Lord, am I alone guilty of loving idols?

(6) Like lightning they flashed very much, but they've already finished speaking--
Like a cloud, over all creation, now I alone am a shadow.

(7) In a hundred ways that One became manifest; no one was moved--
Since my heart had a wound, I alone found no strength.

(8) Thousands found shelter in this garden.
I alone never found shelter here, under any rose or cypress.

(9) Mutual friendship is an ancient tradition; likewise, mutual affection.
If I gave my heart away, am I alone an offender?

(10) All those who saw her lost their senses-- but then they recovered them.
I alone, Mir, through my whole life, never at all came to my senses.

 

Zahra Sabri:

Zahra Sabri is a special guest translator for this site.

(1) Oh, you’ve met a hundred like me; I found none like you
You said hundreds of words of abuse to me; I said not one

(2) I travelled the world, and found that I’m only pleased with you
You remained delighted with everyone; only I didn’t please you one little bit

(3) This boiling over of grief also happens; rain-filled clouds also weep
But only I made a stormy ocean flow from my world-flooding eyes

(4) Everybody made a claim of love, but no one stayed the course
I alone consciously detached my heart from the wish to live

(5) Everybody seeks the sight of beauty; then why so much cruelty to me?
Oh God, am I the only one here guilty of loving beautiful idols?

(6) Though many crackled like lightning, they got done after speaking
I alone remain spread out now, like a cloud, over all creation

(7) He became manifest in a hundred ways, yet no one was at all moved
My heart, which was already wounded, meant I’m the only one who succumbed

(8) There were thousands who drew benefit from this rose-garden
But I alone never felt the shade of the rose or cypress above my head

(9) Friendship is an old tradition, and mutual love also occurs
I am deemed worthy of killing – was I alone in giving my heart?

(10) Whoever saw her was lost, but returned to their senses
But “Mir”, I did not come to my senses as long as I lived