main us daraKHt ka bas aaKHiri hi patta tha

maiñ us daraḳht kā bas āḳhirī hī patta thā

jise hamesha havā ke ḳhilāf laḌnā thā

maiñ zindagī meñ kabhī is qadar na bhaTkā thā

ki jab zamīr mujhe rasta dikhātā thā

machine ban to chukā huuñ magar nahīñ bhūlā

ki mere jism meñ dil bhī kabhī dhaḌaktā thā

vo bachcha kho gayā duniyā kī bhiiḌ meñ kab kā

hasīn ḳhvāboñ kī jo titliyāñ pakaḌtā thā

phir us ke ba.ad parindoñ pe jaane kyā guzrī

maiñ ek peḌ kī shāḳhoñ ko kaaT aayā thā

tamām-umr vo aayā nahīñ zamīñ pe kabhī

havā meñ us ne jo sikka jo kabhī uchhālā thā

mirā vajūd bhī shāmil thā us kī miTTī meñ

mirā bhī khet kī fasloñ meñ koī hissa thā

na jane kitnī surañgeñ nikal ga.iiñ us se

khaḌā pahāḌ bhī to aañkh kā hī dhoka thā

jo baat baat pe khātā rahā ḳhudā kī qasam

qasam ḳhudā kī vahī aadmī to jhūTā thā

pata karo ki abhī vo baḌā huā ki nahīñ

baḌe daraḳht ke nīche jo nanhā paudā thā

us ek sher pe āñkheñ chamak uThī us kī

vo sher jis meñ ki roTī kā zikr aayā thā

hamārī zindagī thī ik talāsh paanī kī

jahāñ pe ret kā 'dvij' ek chhantā dariyā thā

main us daraKHt ka bas aaKHiri hi patta tha

jise hamesha hawa ke KHilaf laDna tha

main zindagi mein kabhi is qadar na bhaTka tha

ki jab zamir mujhe rasta dikhata tha

machine ban to chuka hun magar nahin bhula

ki mere jism mein dil bhi kabhi dhaDakta tha

wo bachcha kho gaya duniya ki bhiD mein kab ka

hasin KHwabon ki jo titliyan pakaDta tha

phir us ke baad parindon pe jaane kya guzri

main ek peD ki shaKHon ko kaT aaya tha

tamam-umr wo aaya nahin zamin pe kabhi

hawa mein us ne jo sikka jo kabhi uchhaala tha

mera wajud bhi shamil tha us ki miTTi mein

mera bhi khet ki faslon mein koi hissa tha

na jane kitni surangen nikal gain us se

khaDa pahaD bhi to aankh ka hi dhoka tha

jo baat baat pe khata raha KHuda ki qasam

qasam KHuda ki wahi aadmi to jhuTa tha

pata karo ki abhi wo baDa hua ki nahin

baDe daraKHt ke niche jo nanha pauda tha

us ek sher pe aankhen chamak uThi us ki

wo sher jis mein ki roTi ka zikr aaya tha

hamari zindagi thi ek talash pani ki

jahan pe ret ka 'dwij' ek chhanta dariya tha