Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. faiz probably wrote this during one of his exiles. He is missing the homeland and characteristically uses the beloved as a metaphor.
1
sharh¹-e firaaq² madah³-e lab-e-mushkbu⁴ kareN
Ghurbat-kade⁵ meN kis se teri guftugu⁶ kareN  1.expound upon 2.separation 3.praise 4.fragrant lips 5.living away from home, exile 6.conversation
The poet is in exile and misses the usual setting of his homeland. He longs to talk to someone about the beloved, expound upon the pain of separation, praise her fragrant lips, but there is none around who can understand.
2
yaar-aashna¹ nahiN koi TakraaeN² kis se jaam³
kis dil-ruba⁴ ke naam pe Khaali subu⁵ kareN  1.familiar with/aware of the beloved 2.click 3.goblets (of wine) 4.beloved 5.flask
The poet/lover wants to click his cup of wine with a fellow reveler at the tavern but he cannot find anyone i.e. he is in exile and cannot find other lovers (of the beloved/homeland). He is unable to empty his flask in honor of the beloved.
3
seene pe haath hai na nazar ko talaash¹-e baam²
dil saath de to aaj Gham-e aarzu³ kareN  1.search 2.balcony, rooftop 3.desire
The classical picture of the lover is that he has his hand on his heart (to mitigate the pain of love) and his eye on the roof top in the hope that the beloved would appear and he would be able to see her. But he is away from the homeland and this picture does not fit. If his heart is strong enough, he might be able to express his sorrow of separation.
4
kab tak sunegi raat kahaaN tak sunaaeN hum
shikve-gile¹ sab aaj tere ru-ba-ru² kareN  1.complaints and grievances 2.face to face
Without a sympathizer/fellow-lover, the poet lover has been complaining to the night (to emptiness). How long can he continue to do so. He wishes that today he may be able to complain, state his grievances face to face with the beloved.
5
hamdam¹ hadees²-e koo³-e malaamat⁴ sunaaiyo
dil ko lahu⁵ kareN ya garebaaN⁶ rafu⁷ kareN  1.friend 2.pronouncements, announcements, news 3.street of 4.condemnation 5.blood 6.collar 7.sew, repair
The poet/lover is in a state of distress with collar torn. He is eager to hear news from the homeland, where he has been condemned. Will the news be good and he will be able to repair his collar, or will it be bad and he will bleed from his heart.
6
aashufta-sar¹ haiN muhtasibo² muNh na aaiyo³
sar bech deN to fikr⁴-e dil-o-jaaN adu⁵ kareN  1.unkempt hair, wild, mad 2.censor, judge, shaiKh 3.muNh na lago, don’t pick a dispute/fight with me 4.worry 5.enemy, rival
‘sar bechna’ is used to mean putting his head on the line, taking risks without caring for consequences. I am stark raving mad, do not tangle with me. If I put my head on the line, then the enemy (the authorities who exiled him) will have to worry about their well being.
7
tar-daamani¹ pe shaiKh hamaari na jaiyo
daaman² nichoR³ deN to farishte⁴ vuzu⁵ kareN  1.wetness of the hem of the robe 2.hem of the robe 3.squeeze 4.angels 5.ritual cleansing/ablutions before prayer/namaaz
In orthodox tradition drinking wine is forbidden and considered a transgression. The poet/sufi uses drinking itself as a tool to make fun of orthodoxy. He has been drinking and the hem of his robe has gotten wet. The shaiKh disapproves of this. He admonishes the shaiKh – don’t go by this superficiality. Were I to squeeze the robe, then the collected liquid will be pure enough for angels to do their ablutions. faiz borrows this she’r giving a slightly nuanced meaning, admonishing the administration that has exiled him.