Original Urdu
Ab tak bhara nahin aaj bhi beqaraar hai yeh dil
ab tak bhara nahin aaj bhi beqaraar hai yeh dil
aap se kya chupana phir be-ikhtiyaar hai yeh dil!
kuucha-e-ishq se pehle bhi guzar chuka hai
par tanha lautne se aaj sharmsaar hai yeh dil!
har zarre mein dhoondta hai husn-e-yaar ka saaya
kya kahen isi justuju ka shikaar hai yeh dil!

English Translation
The heart is still not full, restless even today.
I confess to you: he is out of control again!
He has walked the alleys of Love before too,
Yet, he is ashamed today, to return alone!
He seeks his beloved’s shadow in every particle.
Alas, he has indeed fallen prey to the Quest!
Mugu Ganesan is a poet based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who writes poetry in both English and Urdu. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Hindu, Burning House Press, Scarlet Leaf Review, Boston Literary Magazine, Last Leaves Magazine, High Shelf Press, and Cracked Walnut’s anthology Rewilding Hope. He has honed his craft by participating in several poetry workshops, such as those at the UCLA Extension, The Loft Literary Center, and Poetry School. Mugu’s poetry reflects his observations and life experiences across different cultures and continents, focusing on expressing the strife that comes with being human, delving into themes of identity, human connections and the universal quest for meaning.
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