pahla patthar

maiñ tire shahar meñ phirtā hī rahā sargardāñ

shāh-rāhoñ ke har ik moḌ pe hairāñ hairāñ

ābla-pā jigar afgār karāñ tā-ba-karāñ

isī ummīd pe shāyad ki koī pahchāne

justujū ek bagūle ke anāsir chhāne

shauq-e-rusvā kī pazīrā.ī ke huuñ afsāne

lekin is shahr-e-sitam-pesha meñ kuchh bhī na huā

mirī jānib koī gul-posh darīcha na khulā

kisī āñchal kisī badlī kī na umDī chhāyā

na koī dast-e-sabā thā na kahīñ bū-e-habīb

bām-dar-bām thī be-mehr nigāhoñ kī salīb

har jharoke meñ thī ik shaam mah-o-ḳhur kī raqīb

sail-e-vahshat ko chhupā.e meñ guzartā hī rahā

ek be-rabt fasāna thā bikhartā hī rahā

dahna-e-vaqt rag-o-pai meñ utartā hī rahā

āḳhir ik ku-e-malāmat meñ qadam aa pahuñche

nāvak andāzoñ ke andāz meñ ġham aa pahuñche

ḳhair-maqdam ko safīrān-e-sitam aa pahuñche

pheñk kar chashm-e-farāmosh kā pahlā patthar

tū ne bas ġhurfa-e-ummīd se dekhā chhup kar

ek dīvāne pe pathrāv kā ḳhūnī manzar

sañg uThte hī rahe haath lapakte hī rahe

aañkh rotī hī rahī sharm-e-shanāsā.ī ko

kisī lailā kī taraf se ye munādī na huī

koī patthar se na maare mire saudā.ī ko

main tere shahar mein phirta hi raha sargardan

shah-rahon ke har ek moD pe hairan hairan

aabla-pa jigar afgar karan ta-ba-karan

isi ummid pe shayad ki koi pahchane

justuju ek bagule ke anasir chhane

shauq-e-ruswa ki pazirai ke hun afsane

lekin is shahr-e-sitam-pesha mein kuchh bhi na hua

meri jaanib koi gul-posh daricha na khula

kisi aanchal kisi badli ki na umDi chhaya

na koi dast-e-saba tha na kahin bu-e-habib

baam-dar-baam thi be-mehr nigahon ki salib

har jharoke mein thi ek sham mah-o-KHur ki raqib

sail-e-wahshat ko chhupae mein guzarta hi raha

ek be-rabt fasana tha bikharta hi raha

dahna-e-waqt rag-o-pai mein utarta hi raha

aaKHir ek ku-e-malamat mein qadam aa pahunche

nawak andazon ke andaz mein gham aa pahunche

KHair-maqdam ko safiran-e-sitam aa pahunche

phenk kar chashm-e-faramosh ka pahla patthar

tu ne bas ghurfa-e-ummid se dekha chhup kar

ek diwane pe pathraw ka KHuni manzar

sang uThte hi rahe hath lapakte hi rahe

aankh roti hi rahi sharm-e-shanasai ko

kisi laila ki taraf se ye munadi na hui

koi patthar se na mare mere saudai ko