Akbar, if I stick to the old ways
Saiyid tells me bluntly: Those values are shoddy
If I adopt the new style,
People from my community raise a public outcry
If one talks of moderation; it’s neither here not there
All have stretched their legs too far
This side insists don’t touch even ‘lemonade’
The other feverishly summons, ‘Saqi, bring the cup.’
One side regards the whole book of planned management as
unclean
To the other, the bag of English mail is God’s word itself
Thus Majnun suffers hardship both ways:
In Laila’s company and in Laila’s separation.
Translated from the Urdu by Mehr Afshan Farooqi