yaaden

lo vo chāh-e-shab se niklā pichhle-pahar piilā mahtāb

zehn ne kholī rukte rukte maazī kī pārīna kitāb

yādoñ ke be-ma.anī daftar ḳhvāboñ ke afsurda shahāb

sab ke sab ḳhāmosh zabāñ se kahte haiñ ai ḳhāna-ḳharāb

guzrī baat sadī yā pal ho guzrī baat hai naqsh-bar-āb

ye rūdād hai apne safar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham ne kaise basar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

shahr-e-tamannā ke markaz meñ lagā huā hai melā sā

khel-khilaunoñ kā har-sū hai ik rañgīñ gulzār khilā

vo ik bālak jis ko ghar se ik dirham bhī nahīñ milā

mele kī saj-dhaj meñ kho kar baap kī uñglī chhoḌ gayā

hosh aayā to ḳhud ko tanhā pā ke bahut hairān huā

bhiiḌ meñ raah milī nahīñ ghar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham ne kaise basar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

vo bālak hai aaj bhī hairāñ mela jūñ-kā-tūñ hai lagā

hairāñ hai bāzār meñ chup-chup kyā kyā biktā hai saudā

kahīñ sharāfat kahīñ najābat kahīñ mohabbat kahīñ vafā

āl-aulād kahīñ biktī hai kahīñ buzurg aur kahīñ ḳhudā

ham ne is ahmaq ko āḳhir isī tazabzub meñ chhoḌā

aur nikālī raah mafar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham ne kaise basar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

hoñT tabassum ke aadī haiñ varna ruuh meñ zahr-āgīñ

ghupe hue haiñ itne nashtar jin kī koī ta.adād nahīñ

kitnī baar huī hai ham par tañg ye phailī huī zamīñ

jis par naaz hai ham ko itnā jhukī hai aksar vahī jabīñ

kabhī koī sifla hai aaqā kabhī koī abla farzīñ

bechī laaj bhī apne hunar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham ne kaise basar kī ābād ḳharābe meñ

kaale kos ġham-e-ulfat ke aur maiñ nān-e-shabīna-jū

kabhī chaman-zāroñ meñ uljhā aur kabhī gandum kī bū

nāfa-e-mushk-e-tatārī ban kar liye phirī mujh ko har-sū

yahī hayāt-e-sā.iqa-fitrat banī ta.attul kabhī numū

kabhī kiyā ram ishq se aise jaise koī vahshī aahū

aur kabhī mar-mar ke sahar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham kaise basar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

kabhī ġhanīm-e-jaur-o-sitam ke hāthoñ khaa.ī aisī maat

arz-e-alam meñ ḳhvār hue ham bigḌe rahe barsoñ hālāt

aur kabhī jab din niklā to biit ga.e jug huī na raat

har-sū mah-vash saada qātil lutf-o-ināyat kī sauġhāt

shabnam aisī ThanDī nigāheñ phūloñ kī mahkār sī baat

jūñ-tūñ ye manzil bhī sar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham ne kaise basar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

rāh-navard-e-shauq ko rah meñ kaise kaise yaar mile

abr-e-bahārāñ aks-e-nigārāñ ḳhāl-e-ruḳh-e-dil-dār mile

kuchh bilkul miTTī ke mādho kuchh ḳhanjar kī dhaar mile

kuchh mañjdhār meñ kuchh sāhil par kuchh dariyā ke paar mile

ham sab se har haal meñ lekin yūñhī haath pasār mile

sirf un kī ḳhūbī pe nazar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham ne kaise basar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

saarī hai be-rabt kahānī dhuñdle dhuñdle haiñ aurāq

kahāñ haiñ vo sab jin se jab thī pal-bhar kī duurī bhī shaaq

kahīñ koī nāsūr nahīñ go haa.el hai barsoñ kā firāq

kirm-e-farāmoshī ne dekho chaaT liye kitne mīsāq

vo bhī ham ko ro baiThe haiñ chalo huā qarzā be-bāq

khulī to āḳhir baat asar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham ne kaise basar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

ḳhvāb the ik din auj-e-zamīñ se kāhkashāñ ko chhū leñge

kheleñge gul-rañg shafaq se qaus-e-quzah meñ jhūleñge

bād-e-bahārī ban ke chaleñge sarsoñ ban kar phūleñge

ḳhushiyoñ ke rañgīñ jhurmuT meñ rañj-o-mehan sab bhūleñge

dāġh-e-gul-o-ġhuncha ke badle mahkī huī ḳhushbū leñge

milī ḳhalish par zaḳhm-e-jigar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham ne kaise basar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

ḳhvār hue damḌī ke pīchhe aur kabhī jholī-bhar maal

aise chhoḌ ke uTThe jaise chhuā to kar degā kañgāl

syāne ban kar baat bigāḌī Thiik paḌī saada sī chaal

chhānā dasht-e-mohabbat kitnā ābla-pā majnūñ kī misāl

kabhī sikandar kabhī qalandar kabhī bagūla kabhī ḳhayāl

svāñg rachā.e aur guzar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham ne kaise basar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

ziist ḳhudā jaane hai kyā shai bhuuk tajassus ashk farār

phuul se bachche zohra-jabīneñ mard mujassam bāġh-o-bahār

kiyā hai rūh-e-arz ko āḳhir aur ye zahrīle afkār

kis miTTī se ugte haiñ sab jiinā kyuuñ hai ik begār

in bātoñ se qat-e-nazar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham ne kaise basar kī ābād ḳharābe meñ

duur kahīñ vo koyal kuukī raat ke sannāTe meñ duur

kachchī zamīñ par bikhrā hogā mahkā mahkā aam kā bor

bār-e-mashaqqat kam karne ko khaliyānoñ meñ kaam se chuur

kam-sin laḌke gaate hoñge lo dekho vo sub.h kā nuur

chāh-e-shab se phuuT ke niklā maiñ maġhmūm kabhī masrūr

soch rahā huuñ idhar udhar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham ne kaise basar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

niiñd se ab bhī duur haiñ āñkheñ go ki rahīñ shab-bhar be-ḳhvāb

yādoñ ke be-ma.anī daftar ḳhvāboñ ke afsurda shahāb

sab ke sab ḳhāmosh zabāñ se kahte haiñ ai ḳhāna-ḳharāb

guzrī baat sadī yā pal ho guzrī baat hai naqsh-bar-āb

mustaqbil kī soch, uThā ye maazī kī pārīna kitāb

manzil hai ye hosh-o-ḳhabar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

dekho ham ne kaise basar kī is ābād ḳharābe meñ

lo wo chah-e-shab se nikla pichhle-pahar pila mahtab

zehn ne kholi rukte rukte mazi ki parina kitab

yaadon ke be-mani daftar KHwabon ke afsurda shahab

sab ke sab KHamosh zaban se kahte hain ai KHana-KHarab

guzri baat sadi ya pal ho guzri baat hai naqsh-bar-ab

ye rudad hai apne safar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum ne kaise basar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

shahr-e-tamanna ke markaz mein laga hua hai mela sa

khel-khilaunon ka har-su hai ek rangin gulzar khila

wo ek baalak jis ko ghar se ek dirham bhi nahin mila

mele ki saj-dhaj mein kho kar bap ki ungli chhoD gaya

hosh aaya to KHud ko tanha pa ke bahut hairan hua

bhiD mein rah mili nahin ghar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum ne kaise basar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

wo baalak hai aaj bhi hairan mela jun-ka-tun hai laga

hairan hai bazar mein chup-chup kya kya bikta hai sauda

kahin sharafat kahin najabat kahin mohabbat kahin wafa

aal-aulad kahin bikti hai kahin buzurg aur kahin KHuda

hum ne is ahmaq ko aaKHir isi tazabzub mein chhoDa

aur nikali rah mafar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum ne kaise basar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

honT tabassum ke aadi hain warna ruh mein zahr-agin

ghupe hue hain itne nashtar jin ki koi tadad nahin

kitni bar hui hai hum par tang ye phaili hui zamin

jis par naz hai hum ko itna jhuki hai aksar wahi jabin

kabhi koi sifla hai aaqa kabhi koi abla farzin

bechi laj bhi apne hunar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum ne kaise basar ki aabaad KHarabe mein

kale kos gham-e-ulfat ke aur main nan-e-shabina-ju

kabhi chaman-zaron mein uljha aur kabhi gandum ki bu

nafa-e-mushk-e-tatari ban kar liye phiri mujh ko har-su

yahi hayat-e-saiqa-fitrat bani tattul kabhi numu

kabhi kiya ram ishq se aise jaise koi wahshi aahu

aur kabhi mar-mar ke sahar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum kaise basar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

kabhi ghanim-e-jaur-o-sitam ke hathon khai aisi mat

arz-e-alam mein KHwar hue hum bigDe rahe barson haalat

aur kabhi jab din nikla to bit gae jug hui na raat

har-su mah-wash sada qatil lutf-o-inayat ki saughat

shabnam aisi ThanDi nigahen phulon ki mahkar si baat

jun-tun ye manzil bhi sar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum ne kaise basar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

rah-naward-e-shauq ko rah mein kaise kaise yar mile

abr-e-bahaaran aks-e-nigaran KHal-e-ruKH-e-dil-dar mile

kuchh bilkul miTTi ke madho kuchh KHanjar ki dhaar mile

kuchh manjdhaar mein kuchh sahil par kuchh dariya ke par mile

hum sab se har haal mein lekin yunhi hath pasar mile

sirf un ki KHubi pe nazar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum ne kaise basar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

sari hai be-rabt kahani dhundle dhundle hain auraq

kahan hain wo sab jin se jab thi pal-bhar ki duri bhi shaq

kahin koi nasur nahin go hael hai barson ka firaq

kirm-e-faramoshi ne dekho chaT liye kitne misaq

wo bhi hum ko ro baiThe hain chalo hua qarza be-baq

khuli to aaKHir baat asar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum ne kaise basar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

KHwab the ek din auj-e-zamin se kahkashan ko chhu lenge

khelenge gul-rang shafaq se qaus-e-quzah mein jhulenge

baad-e-bahaari ban ke chalenge sarson ban kar phulenge

KHushiyon ke rangin jhurmuT mein ranj-o-mehan sab bhulenge

dagh-e-gul-o-ghuncha ke badle mahki hui KHushbu lenge

mili KHalish par zaKHm-e-jigar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum ne kaise basar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

KHwar hue damDi ke pichhe aur kabhi jholi-bhar mal

aise chhoD ke uTThe jaise chhua to kar dega kangal

syane ban kar baat bigaDi Thik paDi sada si chaal

chhana dasht-e-mohabbat kitna aabla-pa majnun ki misal

kabhi sikandar kabhi qalandar kabhi bagula kabhi KHayal

swang rachae aur guzar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum ne kaise basar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

zist KHuda jaane hai kya shai bhuk tajassus ashk farar

phul se bachche zohra-jabinen mard mujassam bagh-o-bahaar

kiya hai ruh-e-arz ko aaKHir aur ye zahrile afkar

kis miTTi se ugte hain sab jina kyun hai ek begar

in baaton se qat-e-nazar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum ne kaise basar ki aabaad KHarabe mein

dur kahin wo koyal kuki raat ke sannaTe mein dur

kachchi zamin par bikhra hoga mahka mahka aam ka bor

bar-e-mashaqqat kam karne ko khaliyanon mein kaam se chur

kam-sin laDke gate honge lo dekho wo subh ka nur

chah-e-shab se phuT ke nikla main maghmum kabhi masrur

soch raha hun idhar udhar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum ne kaise basar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

nind se ab bhi dur hain aankhen go ki rahin shab-bhar be-KHwab

yaadon ke be-mani daftar KHwabon ke afsurda shahab

sab ke sab KHamosh zaban se kahte hain ai KHana-KHarab

guzri baat sadi ya pal ho guzri baat hai naqsh-bar-ab

mustaqbil ki soch, uTha ye mazi ki parina kitab

manzil hai ye hosh-o-KHabar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein

dekho hum ne kaise basar ki is aabaad KHarabe mein