lab-kusha

ye chup kitne din kī thī jo āñso.oñ meñ Dhalī

ye gahrī chaTTān aisī pathrīlī jāmid anokhī sī chup

us kā chhūnā bhī mumkin thā tab

ye chup thī ki puurā vajūd apnā jo āñso.oñ meñ Dhalā

batāo to is chup kī bhedoñ bharī thaah meñ shor kyā thā

batāo to kyā guuñj thī

ek sadā dūsrī se ham āhañg jis meñ na thī

jaise sadiyoñ ke be-ḳhvāb dhundlī shabīheñ

dhuāñ-dhār jaltī chitāoñ meñ ghir kar taḌaḳhtī uchhaltī huuñ

kahtī huuñ taqdīr bar-haq hai bar-haq hai zinda aTal

ham-āhañg gardish sitāroñ kī hai

paḌ ga.iiñ jo fazāoñ meñ līkeñ purānī

vo un par phire jā rahe haiñ phire jā rahe

sab hadeñ un kī paimūda haiñ

magar apne ḳhvāb-o-haqā.eq kā sail-e-azīm

koī leak us kī banā de

magar kyoñ

kabhī jo banā de bhī koī to socho

hamāre qadam aur līkoñ kā rishta kahāñ tak

ki ik had pe miT jā.eñgī vo

to kyā ham bhī tham jā.eñge

ham to baḌhte hī rahte haiñ

chāhe vo zilzāl ho jo humaktā nazar aa.e

chāhe vo ik soch ho jo tarāshe chalī jaa.e be-shor-o-shevan

siyah dahshatoñ ke pahāḌ

sazā-vār raftār ham

aur har ik gaam par pā.emālī vo apnī ho yā dūsroñ kī

ta.assuf meñ aur sog meñ ek jaisī hai apne liye

safīna thā bhārī to kyā kyā na kuchh pheñk Daalā

mizha se Tapakte hue qatra-e-ashk kā baar

ḳhvāboñ se ḳhushbū kā bojh

nichoḌā to lahreñ bhī halkī gulābī huiiñ

ruñdhī lai meñ gaatī rahīñ dil dikhātī rahīñ

koī ham se pūchhe

ki ab vaqt kyā hai

to ham kah uTheñ ik sadā

ham is meñ khape kho ga.e

ab sadā par bhī ta.azīr kaisī

sadā do

ki ik bol kī pyaas apne gulo meñ jalā.e

khaḌī hai sitam-kash tamannā kināra-e-furāt

ye chup kitne din ki thi jo aansoon mein Dhali

ye gahri chaTTan aisi pathrili jamid anokhi si chup

us ka chhuna bhi mumkin tha tab

ye chup thi ki pura wajud apna jo aansoon mein Dhala

batao to is chup ki bhedon bhari thah mein shor kya tha

batao to kya gunj thi

ek sada dusri se hum aahang jis mein na thi

jaise sadiyon ke be-KHwab dhundli shabihen

dhuan-dhaar jalti chitaon mein ghir kar taDaKHti uchhalti hun

kahti hun taqdir bar-haq hai bar-haq hai zinda aTal

ham-ahang gardish sitaron ki hai

paD gain jo fazaon mein liken purani

wo un par phire ja rahe hain phire ja rahe

sab haden un ki paimuda hain

magar apne KHwab-o-haqaeq ka sail-e-azim

koi leak us ki bana de

magar kyon

kabhi jo bana de bhi koi to socho

hamare qadam aur likon ka rishta kahan tak

ki ek had pe miT jaengi wo

to kya hum bhi tham jaenge

hum to baDhte hi rahte hain

chahe wo zilzal ho jo humakta nazar aae

chahe wo ek soch ho jo tarashe chali jae be-shor-o-shewan

siyah dahshaton ke pahaD

saza-war raftar hum

aur har ek gam par paemali wo apni ho ya dusron ki

tassuf mein aur sog mein ek jaisi hai apne liye

safina tha bhaari to kya kya na kuchh phenk Dala

mizha se Tapakte hue qatra-e-ashk ka bar

KHwabon se KHushbu ka bojh

nichoDa to lahren bhi halki gulabi huin

rundhi lai mein gati rahin dil dikhati rahin

koi hum se puchhe

ki ab waqt kya hai

to hum kah uThen ek sada

hum is mein khape kho gae

ab sada par bhi tazir kaisi

sada do

ki ek bol ki pyas apne gulo mein jalae

khaDi hai sitam-kash tamanna kinara-e-furaat