pul

baḌī muddatoñ meñ mire sahn kī mīThī niim ek dam guuñj uTThī

harī pattiyoñ meñ kahīñ koī baajā bajā

koī sur pighal kar havāoñ meñ bahne lagā

baḌī muddatoñ meñ daraḳht aaj phir mujh se kuchh kahne sunñe lagā

koī sur pighal kar havāoñ meñ bahne lagā

maiñ tabdīl hone lagā

lagā rail kī siiTī sun kar koī lomḌī chīḳhtī ho

lagā horn sun kar ki kuttoñ kā dil bhūñktā ho

lagā kār-ḳhānoñ ke bhoñpū gadhoñ kī tarah reñgte hoñ

lagā jaise pressure-cōker meñ ġhizāoñ kā dam ghuT rahā ho

lagā jaise chhat par chaḌhā tez pañkhā bahut der se baḌbaḌātā chalā jā rahā ho

agar koī sur meñ hai to bas vahī ajnabī tanhā bulbul

ki jis ne zarā der ko niim kī Dāliyoñ ko chaman-zār 'ḳhayyām-neshā-pūrī'

kā banā kar

mujhe apnī patthar jagī aatmā se mulāqāt kā phir se mauqa.a diyā hai!

baDi muddaton mein mere sahn ki miThi nim ek dam gunj uTThi

hari pattiyon mein kahin koi baja baja

koi sur pighal kar hawaon mein bahne laga

baDi muddaton mein daraKHt aaj phir mujh se kuchh kahne sunne laga

koi sur pighal kar hawaon mein bahne laga

main tabdil hone laga

laga rail ki siTi sun kar koi lomDi chiKHti ho

laga horn sun kar ki kutton ka dil bhunkta ho

laga kar-KHanon ke bhonpu gadhon ki tarah rengte hon

laga jaise pressure-cooker mein ghizaon ka dam ghuT raha ho

laga jaise chhat par chaDha tez pankha bahut der se baDbaData chala ja raha ho

agar koi sur mein hai to bas wahi ajnabi tanha bulbul

ki jis ne zara der ko nim ki Daliyon ko chaman-zar 'KHayyam-nesha-puri'

ka bana kar

mujhe apni patthar jagi aatma se mulaqat ka phir se mauqa diya hai!