ek express train

aziyyat-nāk us gaaḌī kā andāz-e-ravānī hai

baḌī dil-doz us ke har musāfir kī kahānī hai

safar kī har sa.ūbat ik balā-e-nā-gahānī hai

na roTī hai na sālan hai na chaa.e hai na paanī hai

ye diesel kī bajā.e har qadam par jaan khātī hai

javānī aadmī kī rāste meñ biit jaatī hai

yahāñ gul-ḳhān jitne haiñ vo sab pur-josh baiThe haiñ

magar punjab ke jo log haiñ ḳhāmosh baiThe haiñ

ka.ī kuchh hosh meñ haiñ aur kuchh behosh baiThe haiñ

ka.ī na.ara-ba-lab haiñ aur kafan-bar-dosh baiThe haiñ

hai bhiiḌ itnī ki izrā.īl se dar tak nahīñ hiltā

use bogī meñ ghusne kā koī rasta nahīñ miltā

yahāñ īmān kī daulat bhī hai ik jins-e-be-māya

nikal jaatā hai har-ik dil se ġham-ḳhvārī kā sarmāya

haqīqat meñ ye raaz ab tak samajh koī nahīñ paayā

gayā ik baar jo bait-ul-ḳhalā meñ phir nahīñ aayā

jo thī jā-e-farāġhat ban ga.ī jā-e-amāñ shāyad

yahī hai gosha-e-mahfūz zer-e-āsmāñ shāyad

taras aatā hai rah rah kar mujhe un nā-tavānoñ par

paḌe haiñ bojh ban kar jo thake-hāre javānoñ par

salāḳhoñ se chimaT kar jo khaḌe haiñ pā.idānoñ par

haiñ un kī ḳhāna-barbādī ke qisse āsmānoñ par

har ik jhaTke pe Tāñgeñ kāñptī haiñ dam nikaltā hai

sañbhal kar koī girtā hai koī gir kar sañbhaltā hai

vahī gaaḌī pe qābiz hai usī kā bol-bālā hai

vo jis ne apne ik sāthī kā kurtā phaaḌ Daalā hai

tiffin khāne kā jis ne apne hāthoñ meñ sañbhālā hai

samajh lo fāqa-mastoñ ke liye vo tar nivāla hai

kamar bāñdhe hue laḌne ko yaañ sab yaar baiThe haiñ

jo apne haiñ jhapaTne ke liye tayyār baiThe haiñ

jo raahī railway ahkām kī ta.amīl kar baiThe

vo apne ġham kī daurān-e-safar takmīl kar baiThe

sukūn-e-qalb apnā vāsil-e-tājīl kar baiThe

ka.ī ḳhush-baḳht apnī bīviyāñ tabdīl kar baiThe

mirā beTā shakūre kā navāsā ban ke baiThā thā

jo merā thā kabhī us kā asāsa ban ke baiThā thā

aziyyat-nak us gaDi ka andaz-e-rawani hai

baDi dil-doz us ke har musafir ki kahani hai

safar ki har saubat ek bala-e-na-gahani hai

na roTi hai na salan hai na chae hai na pani hai

ye diesel ki bajae har qadam par jaan khati hai

jawani aadmi ki raste mein bit jati hai

yahan gul-KHan jitne hain wo sab pur-josh baiThe hain

magar punjab ke jo log hain KHamosh baiThe hain

kai kuchh hosh mein hain aur kuchh behosh baiThe hain

kai nara-ba-lab hain aur kafan-bar-dosh baiThe hain

hai bhiD itni ki izrail se dar tak nahin hilta

use bogi mein ghusne ka koi rasta nahin milta

yahan iman ki daulat bhi hai ek jins-e-be-maya

nikal jata hai har-ik dil se gham-KHwari ka sarmaya

haqiqat mein ye raaz ab tak samajh koi nahin paya

gaya ek bar jo bait-ul-KHala mein phir nahin aaya

jo thi ja-e-faraghat ban gai ja-e-aman shayad

yahi hai gosha-e-mahfuz zer-e-asman shayad

taras aata hai rah rah kar mujhe un na-tawanon par

paDe hain bojh ban kar jo thake-haare jawanon par

salaKHon se chimaT kar jo khaDe hain paidanon par

hain un ki KHana-barbaadi ke qisse aasmanon par

har ek jhaTke pe Tangen kanpti hain dam nikalta hai

sanbhal kar koi girta hai koi gir kar sanbhalta hai

wahi gaDi pe qabiz hai usi ka bol-baala hai

wo jis ne apne ek sathi ka kurta phaD Dala hai

tiffin khane ka jis ne apne hathon mein sanbhaala hai

samajh lo faqa-maston ke liye wo tar niwala hai

kamar bandhe hue laDne ko yan sab yar baiThe hain

jo apne hain jhapaTne ke liye tayyar baiThe hain

jo rahi railway ahkaam ki tamil kar baiThe

wo apne gham ki dauran-e-safar takmil kar baiThe

sukun-e-qalb apna wasil-e-tajil kar baiThe

kai KHush-baKHt apni biwiyan tabdil kar baiThe

mera beTa shakure ka nawasa ban ke baiTha tha

jo mera tha kabhi us ka asasa ban ke baiTha tha