Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mohammed dawood KhaaN aKhtar shiiraani (1904-1948) ToNk, rajashthan. He received religious and classical education at home and was also given lessons in wrestling. In 1921, there was a rebellion against the local navaab. He was able to put down the rebellion but banished a lot of people, among them shiiraani’s family, who migrated to lahore. He started working as a journalist and publisher. His love interest and poetry caused a breakdown of relationship with his father, but his allowance continued. He died early due to heavy smoking and drinking. In his poetry he broke with the trend of progressive poets and stayed with romantic themes. He is known to have fallen in love with several women, and wrote explicitly about them, naming names. This is an over the top, joyful and deeply romantic expression of happiness at the impending encounter with the beloved.

7
dil ki rag-rag¹ meN hai betaab² mohabbat uss kii
aaNkh ke parde³ pe lahraati⁴ hai suurat uss kii
Khalvat⁶-e rooh⁷ meN aabaad⁸ hai ulfat⁹ uss kii
mere’ jazbaat¹⁰ pe taari¹¹ hai lataafat¹² uss kii
aur kuchh yaad nahiN iss ke sivaa¹³ aaj ki raat     1.every fibre 2.restless, throbbing 3.screen 4.waves, undulates 5.seclusion, solitude, private chamber 7.soul 8.live, reside 9.love 10.feelings, emotions 11.cover, envelop, overwhelm 12.elegance, delicacy 13.except for
Love of her throbs in every vein of my heart; her image plays on the screen of my eyes; her love lives in the inner sanctum of my soul; her elegance overwhelms my feelings. Except for this I do not remember/am not aware of anything else tonight.
8
nik’hat¹-e husn² ho daamaan³-e havaa meN raqsaaN⁴
jazba⁵-e ishq ho rangiin fizaa⁶ meN raqsaaN
kaif-o-sarmasti⁷ ho manzar⁸ ki adaa⁹ meN raqsaaN
noor¹⁰ hi noor ho yuN arz-o-sama¹¹ meN raqsaaN
keh Khudaaii¹² meN utar aa’e Khuda aaj ki raat 1.fragrance 2.beauty, beloved 3.hem of the garment 4.dancing 5.feelings 6.atmosphere 7.pleasure/exhilaration and intoxication 8.scene 9.style 10.brilliance, light 11.earth and sky, heaven and earth 12.creation, world
The fragrance of the beloved dances in the air; my feelings of love dance in the colourful atmosphere; the scene around dances in a style of intoxication and exhilaration; there is a dance of light enveloping the heaven and skies for god himself coming down into this world.
9
vaaqif¹-e dard-e dil-e zaar² kareNge unn ko
Gham-e ulfat³ se Khabardaar⁴ kareNge unn ko
mahram⁵-e jazba⁶-e asraar⁷ kareNge unn ko
go’d⁸ meN leNge unheN pyaar kareNge unn ko
dil ki rag-rag⁹ se yeh aati hai sadaa¹⁰ aaj ki raat 1.aware 2.sorrowful 3.love 4.acquaint, inform 5.familiar 6.feelings 7.mysterious, hidden 8.lap, embrace 9.every fibre 10.sound
I will reveal the pain of my sorrowful heart to her; I will acquaint her with the pain of love; make her familiar with my hidden feelings; I will embrace her and kiss her. Every fibre of my being calls this message out.
10
laikin izhaar¹-e Khayaalaat² kareNge kyuNkar³
sharm⁴ aati hai mulaaqaat⁵ kareNge kyuNkar
baat karni hai magar baat kareNge kyuNkar
Khatm⁶ ye Khwaab⁷ ki si raat kareNge kyuNkar
aah yeh aaj ki yeh Khwaab-numa⁸ aaj ki raat    1.express 2.thoughts, feelings 3.how 4.diffidence, hesitation 5.meeting 6.conclude 7.dream 8.dreamlike
But how can I bring myself to express my feelings; how can I overcome my timidity and meet her; I have to talk, but where can I find the courage to do so; how can I bring this dreamy night to a conclusion? Oh! this night, this dream-like night, tonight.
11
aye dil aisaa na ho kuchh baat banaa’e¹ na bane’²
haal³-e dil jo bhi sunaana hai sunaa’e na bane’
paas⁴ aa’eN to magar paas biThaa’e na bane’
sharm⁵ ke maare unheN haath lagaa’e na bane’
keh tasavvur⁶ se bhi aati hai hayaa⁷ aaj ki raat 1.to make something happen 2.does not come about 3.condition 4.near 5.coyness, hesitation 6.imagination 7.shyness
O my sorrowful heart, I fear that I will try and fail to get anywhere; I have to relate the condition of my heart, but may not be able to do so; she may approach me, but I may be fearful of asking her to sit close to me; my hesitation my prevent me from reaching and touching her for even as I imagine this, I become timid and shy.
12
yuN to har tarah¹ adab² madd-e-nazar³ rakhna hai
hasrat⁴-e dil ka lehaaz⁵ aaj magar rakhna hai
beKhudi⁶ dekh tujhe meri Khabar⁷ rakhna hai
naazniiN⁸ qadmoN⁹ peh yuN naaz¹⁰ se sar rakhna hai
keh taRap¹¹ uTThe dil-e arz-o-sama¹² aaj ki raat 1.under all conditions 2.respect (for social norms) 3.before the eyes, under consideration 4.yearning, longing 5.regard, care for 6.being unaware of self 7.aware, watch out, restrain 8.delicate 9.feet 10.in style 11.pained 12.heaven and earth
Of course, I have to keep social norms under consideration always but also have to have regard for the yearning of my heart. I may become unaware of my own condition/behaviour – O awareness/mindfulness you have to be mindful of me and restrain me. I have to prostrate my forehead in proper style at those delicate feet so that the heart of heaven and earth thrash about in pain.
13
ham meN kuchh jur’at¹-e goyaaii² bhi hogi keh nahiiN
himmat³-e naasiya-farsaaii⁴ bhi hogi keh nahiiN
sharm⁵ se duur shakebaaii⁶ bhi hogi keh nahiiN
yusuf⁷-e dil se ZulaiKhaaii⁸ bhi hogi keh nahiiN
aaj ki raat! uff, o mere’ Khuda, aaj ki raat 1.daring 2.speech 3.courage 4.prostrating the forehead, rubbing the forehead at the feet, utter submission 5.coyness, hesitation 6.endurance, steadfastness 7.Joseph 8.see notes below
The poet uses the Biblical legend of yusuf-zuleiKha as a symbol of lack of courage on the part of the lover to express his love to the beloved. Thus, will I dare to speak my feelings or not; will I have the courage to submit to her; will my endurance/resolve drive away my hesitation; will I have the courage to express my love or will I fail like yusuf. This night! Oh god! of all nights, tonight.