nirali raaten

kālī, jagmagātī, nirālī rāteñ

ras bharī, madmātī rāteñ

raat kī raanī ḳhushbū se bharī

tāroñ kī maddham nūrānī chhāñv meñ

halkī ThanDī rāteñ

baisākhī havāoñ

''sārañgī kī lambī alkaskī siskiyoñ''

pyaar ke rāzoñ se bojhal

kahānī rāteñ

kahāñ kho ga.iiñ haiñ yā-rab?

kho jaa.eñ

to phir kho jaa.eñ

lekin vo man-mohak ghaḌiyāñ

ḳhuun meñ jaise ghul sī ga.ī haiñ

vo laḌkhaḌāte, adhūre, nā-mukammal jumle

ab bhī saaf sunā.ī dete haiñ

abaruoñ palkoñ māthe kī shiknoñ ke

bāñke tirchhe pal pal badalte zāvi.e

jo kyā kyā kuchh kahte the

dikhā.ī dete haiñ

vo nit-na.ī anokhī be-intihā ḳhushiyāñ

maujūd bhī haiñ zinda bhī

lekin dard-o-alam kī maujeñ ban kar

dil ke goshe goshe meñ phail ga.ī haiñ

ye to sunā hai zahr kabhī amrit ban jaatā hai

lekin jab amrit ḳhud zahrīlā ho jaa.e

phir āḳhir koī kaise jiye?

kali, jagmagati, nirali raaten

ras bhari, madmati raaten

raat ki rani KHushbu se bhari

taron ki maddham nurani chhanw mein

halki ThanDi raaten

baisakhi hawaon

sarangi ki lambi alkaski siskiyon

pyar ke raazon se bojhal

kahani raaten

kahan kho gain hain ya-rab?

kho jaen

to phir kho jaen

lekin wo man-mohak ghaDiyan

KHun mein jaise ghul si gai hain

wo laDkhaDate, adhure, na-mukammal jumle

ab bhi saf sunai dete hain

abaruon palkon mathe ki shiknon ke

banke tirchhe pal pal badalte zawie

jo kya kya kuchh kahte the

dikhai dete hain

wo nit-nai anokhi be-intiha KHushiyan

maujud bhi hain zinda bhi

lekin dard-o-alam ki maujen ban kar

dil ke goshe goshe mein phail gai hain

ye to suna hai zahr kabhi amrit ban jata hai

lekin jab amrit KHud zahrila ho jae

phir aaKHir koi kaise jiye?