aagahi ka qatra qatra zahr

mujhe batāo ki maiñ kahāñ huuñ

mujhe samjhāo maiñ kaun huuñ kyā huuñ aur kyuuñ huuñ

maiñ be-basar be-ḳhabar

safar kī be-rahm sā.atoñ kā asiir

in rāstoñ kā raahī

ki jin kā har sang-e-mīl be-chehra be-nishāñ hai

ḳhizāñ-zada barg-e-ḳhushk

andhī havā ke pur-shor be-samā.at bipharte rele

kī rahguzar par

maiñ an-ginat be-shumār sāloñ se

nā-rasā.ī ke karb se dil-e-shikasta aur pā-figār raahī

ki jis kī har sa.ī-e-be-samar ne

ki jis kī har kāvish-e-safar ne

kuchh aur manzil ke fāsloñ ko baḌhā diyā hai

misāl mere safar kī tamsīl-e-āl-e-mūsā

ki apne dasht-e-amal meñ apnī siyāh-baḳhtī kā haath pakḌe

ravāñ-davāñ huuñ ka.ī zamānoñ se

aur jab bhī Thahar ke kuchh dekhtā huuñ apne safar kā hāsil

to koī manzil na rāh-e-manzil

chalā thā maiñ jis jagah se ab bhī vahāñ khaḌā huuñ

mujhe batāo ki maiñ kahāñ huuñ

mujhe sujhāo maiñ kaun huuñ kyā huuñ aur kyuuñ huuñ

mire badan par na merā chehra

na mere muñh meñ zabān merī

na merī āñkheñ na kaan mere

maiñ ajnabī jism ke havāle se apnī pahchān kā huuñ aadī

na soch merī na zehn merā

na fikr merī na mujh ko apnā shu.ūr-e-zātī

mire tashaḳhḳhus ke vāste mere muhsin-o-chāra-sāz laate

rahe haiñ barsoñ

hasīñ hasīñ ḳhush-libās surK-o-safed chehre

koī musir hai safed chehra mire badan par bahār degā

kisī ko isrār surḳh-chehra bahut sajegā

hasīñ hasīñ ḳhush-libās chehroñ kī yūrish-e-be-panah ke hāthoñ

maiñ apnā chehra bhulā chukā huuñ

maiñ apnī pahchān kho chukā huuñ

mujhe dikhāo to merā chehra

ki maiñ bhī jānūñ

ki maiñ bhī samjhūñ

maiñ kaisā lagtā huuñ aa.ine meñ

ki merī pahchān mustaqil ho

maiñ apne hī jism ke havāle se apnī pahchān to karā.ūñ

maiñ kaun huuñ kyā huuñ aur kyuuñ huuñ

savāl avval savāl āḳhir

mirī har ik samt aaj likkhā huā hai harf-e-savāl dekho

savāl jo soch kī kiran hai

savāl jo āgahī kā ziina hai ḳhud-shanāsī kā ik chalan hai

mujhe batāo

javāb kitnā hī talḳh ho us ko maiñ sunūñgā

mujhe pilāo

maiñ qatra qatra ye zahr-e-ḳhud-āgahī piyūñgā

ki is tarah vo jo maiñ nahīñ huuñ

ye zahr pī kar miTe to shāyad maiñ dekh pā.ūñ

use jo maiñ huuñ

mujhe batao ki main kahan hun

mujhe samjhao main kaun hun kya hun aur kyun hun

main be-basar be-KHabar

safar ki be-rahm saaton ka asir

in raston ka rahi

ki jin ka har sang-e-mil be-chehra be-nishan hai

KHizan-zada barg-e-KHushk

andhi hawa ke pur-shor be-samaat bipharte rele

ki rahguzar par

main an-ginat be-shumar salon se

na-rasai ke karb se dil-e-shikasta aur pa-figar rahi

ki jis ki har sai-e-be-samar ne

ki jis ki har kawish-e-safar ne

kuchh aur manzil ke faslon ko baDha diya hai

misal mere safar ki tamsil-e-al-e-musa

ki apne dasht-e-amal mein apni siyah-baKHti ka hath pakDe

rawan-dawan hun kai zamanon se

aur jab bhi Thahar ke kuchh dekhta hun apne safar ka hasil

to koi manzil na rah-e-manzil

chala tha main jis jagah se ab bhi wahan khaDa hun

mujhe batao ki main kahan hun

mujhe sujhao main kaun hun kya hun aur kyun hun

mere badan par na mera chehra

na mere munh mein zaban meri

na meri aankhen na kan mere

main ajnabi jism ke hawale se apni pahchan ka hun aadi

na soch meri na zehn mera

na fikr meri na mujh ko apna shuur-e-zati

mere tashaKHKHus ke waste mere muhsin-o-chaara-saz late

rahe hain barson

hasin hasin KHush-libas surK-o-safed chehre

koi musir hai safed chehra mere badan par bahaar dega

kisi ko israr surKH-chehra bahut sajega

hasin hasin KHush-libas chehron ki yurish-e-be-panah ke hathon

main apna chehra bhula chuka hun

main apni pahchan kho chuka hun

mujhe dikhao to mera chehra

ki main bhi jaanun

ki main bhi samjhun

main kaisa lagta hun aaine mein

ki meri pahchan mustaqil ho

main apne hi jism ke hawale se apni pahchan to karaun

main kaun hun kya hun aur kyun hun

sawal awwal sawal aaKHir

meri har ek samt aaj likkha hua hai harf-e-sawal dekho

sawal jo soch ki kiran hai

sawal jo aagahi ka zina hai KHud-shanasi ka ek chalan hai

mujhe batao

jawab kitna hi talKH ho us ko main sununga

mujhe pilao

main qatra qatra ye zahr-e-KHud-agahi piyunga

ki is tarah wo jo main nahin hun

ye zahr pi kar miTe to shayad main dekh paun

use jo main hun