nirmal miThe pani ki talash

vo mirā vahm

ki jhoñkā sā koī sabz-qabā thā

jise dekhā

kisī chahkār kī ḳhunkī bhī fazā meñ jo bikhartī

to ye khultā

ki abhī khoj hai āġhāz abhī khoj hai parvāz

kabhī yuuñ bhī to hotā hai ki ho khoj yahī

raakh kī muTThī meñ dabī adh-jalī pattī

vahī ma.amūl-e-shab-o-roz

ki bedād hī bedād hai

randā jo lagātār rahe phertā apnā

tauba har zāviya hamvār

ba-har zāviya chhil chhil ke gavārā

kahīñ ho jaa.e na be-sāḳhta fariyād

ye dhaḌkā sā banā rahtā hai dil meñ

vo tane TuuT rahe haiñ

jo qadam the jo bharam the

ki koī lafz na paayā na kisī lafz kā mafhūm

jo paanī kā badal ho

vo tane chhān ke ḳhāmosh taheñ ḳhaak kī

ḳhāmosh taheñ āñsū-e-aflāk kī

lauT aa.e vahīñ

apnī sisaktī huī paimūda hadoñ meñ

yahī āsār fazāoñ ke khule-pan se mozāhim

jo guzargāh meñ sailāb kī hote

to kisī moḌ par muḌte hue

shabnam kā nam-o-narm bichhaunā unheñ miltā

to do sad resha anāsir vo gale biij

zarā der ko ho jaate vahīñ Dher maze meñ

kaf-e-sailāb meñ uljhe hue ḳhāshāk meñ poshīda

vo juḌ juḌ ke baham

chain se sote

ki abhī der hai elān-e-sahar hone meñ

elān-e-sahar pahle sune jo bhī sahar-ḳhez

vo auroñ ko bhī jaag uThne kā

paimān-e-farāmosh shuda

yaad dilā.e

yahī kaliyoñ ke tabassum meñ ghulī yād-dahānī

jo ThiThur jaa.e samā.at

to samā.at ke liye ek anokhī sā dhamāka

ye mirā vahm shagūnī mirī zanjīr

koī añdhkār utar aa.e jo pāyāb gumānoñ meñ

to pāyāb gumānoñ meñ

utar aatī hai gahrā.ī yaqīñ sī

koī sayyāh sī sayārsī jhalkār utar aa.e

jo Thahre hue paanī meñ

to Thahre hue paanī meñ

ravānī kī mushāhid

mirī āshufta-nigāhī

vo kahāñ phir bhī magar lahr tale lahr kī ta.amīr

ki de jis pe jigar-e-tishna-tamannā bhī gavāhī

jo vo ik sat.h-e-garāñ-māya hai

ik qa.ar-e-balā-ḳhez

ubhartā huā mallāh

utartā huā aġhvāz

jahāñ vahm nahīñ

zinda-o-tābinda haqīqat hai dil-āvez

koī hiire kī kanī sī ki hai tīnat meñ sirishta

kabhī āvāz kī lau ban ga.ī

āfāq-ba-āfāq palaTtī huī aurāq

kabhī chhantī rahī āñkhoñ se paiham sifat-e-ashk

tū badaltā huā rasta

tah-e-dariyā se dahaktī huī baalū meñ

nikaltā huā rasta

jise dekhā

vo mirā vahm nahīñ merā yaqīñ thā

koī buuTā jo khaḌā hai

to yahī kaam hai us kā

ki ḳhazāne kā patā pūchhne vāloñ ko batā.e

jo ḳhalāoñ kā aqab hai

vo ḳhalā kab hai ḳhalā kab

jo vahāñ bhī

isī kamlī kā kinārā ho

kisī daur ke imkāñ sā jhalaktā

to vahāñ bhī vahī phailāv chhalaktā hai chamaktā hai

sahar-rañg dhundalke meñ

siyah-chashm tajallī kā ḳhunuk-tāb talāzum

to jigar-soḳhtgān-e-do-jahāñ

kaun hai phir khoj meñ sargarm

ye tum

gher ke laa.e ga.e tum

yā vo nazar manzilat-ārā nazar sāhab-e-kausar hai

ki hai gasht meñ bedār

jise dekhā

vo ishārā sā ki haañ jauf-e-adam

jauf-e-adam meñ bhī jo mumkin hai

ḳhud-ārā.ī ke aalam meñ ye faizān kā aalam

to ye hairat kā Thikāna nahīñ

TuuTe hue ā.īno

ye juḌ jaane kī manzil

ye jilā paane kī jā hai

wo mera wahm

ki jhonka sa koi sabz-qaba tha

jise dekha

kisi chahkar ki KHunki bhi faza mein jo bikharti

to ye khulta

ki abhi khoj hai aaghaz abhi khoj hai parwaz

kabhi yun bhi to hota hai ki ho khoj yahi

rakh ki muTThi mein dabi adh-jali patti

wahi mamul-e-shab-o-roz

ki bedad hi bedad hai

randa jo lagatar rahe pherta apna

tauba har zawiya hamwar

ba-har zawiya chhil chhil ke gawara

kahin ho jae na be-saKHta fariyaad

ye dhaDka sa bana rahta hai dil mein

wo tane TuT rahe hain

jo qadam the jo bharam the

ki koi lafz na paya na kisi lafz ka mafhum

jo pani ka badal ho

wo tane chhan ke KHamosh tahen KHak ki

KHamosh tahen aansu-e-aflak ki

lauT aae wahin

apni sisakti hui paimuda hadon mein

yahi aasar fazaon ke khule-pan se mozahim

jo guzargah mein sailab ki hote

to kisi moD par muDte hue

shabnam ka nam-o-narm bichhauna unhen milta

to do sad resha anasir wo gale bij

zara der ko ho jate wahin Dher maze mein

kaf-e-sailab mein uljhe hue KHashak mein poshida

wo juD juD ke baham

chain se sote

ki abhi der hai elan-e-sahar hone mein

elan-e-sahar pahle sune jo bhi sahar-KHez

wo auron ko bhi jag uThne ka

paiman-e-faramosh shuda

yaad dilae

yahi kaliyon ke tabassum mein ghuli yaad-dahani

jo ThiThur jae samaat

to samaat ke liye ek anokhi sa dhamaka

ye mera wahm shaguni meri zanjir

koi andhkar utar aae jo payab gumanon mein

to payab gumanon mein

utar aati hai gahrai yaqin si

koi sayyah si sayarsi jhalkar utar aae

jo Thahre hue pani mein

to Thahre hue pani mein

rawani ki mushahid

meri aashufta-nigahi

wo kahan phir bhi magar lahr tale lahr ki tamir

ki de jis pe jigar-e-tishna-tamanna bhi gawahi

jo wo ek sath-e-garan-maya hai

ek qar-e-bala-KHez

ubharta hua mallah

utarta hua aghwaz

jahan wahm nahin

zinda-o-tabinda haqiqat hai dil-awez

koi hire ki kani si ki hai tinat mein sirishta

kabhi aawaz ki lau ban gai

aafaq-ba-afaq palaTti hui auraq

kabhi chhanti rahi aankhon se paiham sifat-e-ashk

tu badalta hua rasta

tah-e-dariya se dahakti hui baalu mein

nikalta hua rasta

jise dekha

wo mera wahm nahin mera yaqin tha

koi buTa jo khaDa hai

to yahi kaam hai us ka

ki KHazane ka pata puchhne walon ko batae

jo KHalaon ka aqab hai

wo KHala kab hai KHala kab

jo wahan bhi

isi kamli ka kinara ho

kisi daur ke imkan sa jhalakta

to wahan bhi wahi phailaw chhalakta hai chamakta hai

sahar-rang dhundalke mein

siyah-chashm tajalli ka KHunuk-tab talazum

to jigar-soKHtgan-e-do-jahan

kaun hai phir khoj mein sargarm

ye tum

gher ke lae gae tum

ya wo nazar manzilat-ara nazar sahab-e-kausar hai

ki hai gasht mein bedar

jise dekha

wo ishaara sa ki han jauf-e-adam

jauf-e-adam mein bhi jo mumkin hai

KHud-arai ke aalam mein ye faizan ka aalam

to ye hairat ka Thikana nahin

TuTe hue aaino

ye juD jaane ki manzil

ye jila pane ki ja hai