aagahi

maiñ jab tifl-e-maktab thaa, har baat, har falsafa jāntā thā

khaḌe ho ke mimbar pe pahroñ salātīn-e-pārīn-o-hāzir

hikāyāt-shīrīñ-o-talḳh un kii, un ke daraḳhshāñ jarā.em

jo safhāt-e-tārīḳh par kārnāme haiñ, un ke avāmir

navāhī, hakīmoñ ke aqvāl, daanā ḳhatīboñ ke ḳhutbe

jinheñ mustamanadoñ ne baaqī rakkhā us kā maḳhfī o zāhir

funūn-e-latīfa ḳhudāvand ke hukm-nāme, farāmīn

jinheñ masḳh karte rahe pīr-zāde jahāñ ke anāsir

har ik saḳht mauzū par is tarah boltā thā ki mujh ko

samundar samajhte the sab ilm o fan kaa, har ik merī ḳhātir

tag-o-dau meñ rahtā thaa, lekin yakāyak huā kyā ye mujh ko

ye mahsūs hotā hai sote se uTThā huuñ, hilne se qāsir

kisī bahr ke suune sāhil pe baiThā huuñ gardan jhukā.e

sar-e-shām aa.ī hai dekho to hai āgahī kitnī shātir!

main jab tifl-e-maktab tha, har baat, har falsafa jaanta tha

khaDe ho ke mimbar pe pahron salatin-e-parin-o-hazir

hikayat-shirin-o-talKH un ki, un ke daraKHshan jaraem

jo safhat-e-tariKH par karname hain, un ke awamir

nawahi, hakimon ke aqwal, dana KHatibon ke KHutbe

jinhen mustamanadon ne baqi rakkha us ka maKHfi o zahir

funun-e-latifa KHudawand ke hukm-name, faramin

jinhen masKH karte rahe pir-zade jahan ke anasir

har ek saKHt mauzu par is tarah bolta tha ki mujh ko

samundar samajhte the sab ilm o fan ka, har ek meri KHatir

tag-o-dau mein rahta tha, lekin yakayak hua kya ye mujh ko

ye mahsus hota hai sote se uTTha hun, hilne se qasir

kisi bahr ke sune sahil pe baiTha hun gardan jhukae

sar-e-sham aai hai dekho to hai aagahi kitni shatir!