reading room

mez par aḳhbār ke phaile varaq

bikhre bikhre tiira tiira chaak chaak

Dhal ga.ī hai qālib-e-alfāz meñ

sīna-e-hastī kī āh-e-dardnāk

paas hī dīvār ko Teke hue

radio garm-e-suḳhan mahv-e-bayāñ

chīḳhtī haiñ jāma-e-āvāz meñ

ḳhuun ke chhīñTe lahū kī būñdiyāñ

shaam reading room kī maġhmūm shaam

chand kaan elānchī kī baat par

chand āñkheñ soch meñ Duubī huiiñ

murtakiz aḳhbār ke safhāt par

ek kamre meñ simaT kar aa ga.e

kitne dukhḌoñ ke sadā-paikar hurūf

kitne dardoñ ke mistar zamzame

kitne andhe gyānī bahre falyasūf

phir bhī kuchh idrāk meñ aatā nahīñ

kyā hai raqs-e-gardish-e-ayyām kyā

ik shikasta naav ik ḳhūnī bhañvar

kyā hai is afsāne kā anjām kyā

ye mufakkir kuchh samajh sakte nahīñ

chhat ke nīche rauzanoñ ke darmiyāñ

gol gol āñkhoñ ke andar mahv-e-dīd

kaale paare kī muraqqas putliyāñ

kaash ye hairāñ kabūtar jānte

ḳhufta hai un kāġhazoñ kī satah par

kitne phanakte āshiyānoñ kā dhuāñ

kitne naḳhchīroñ kī aahoñ ke sharar

haiñ in āvāzoñ ke andar par-kushā

kitne kargas jin ko murdāroñ kī bū

khīñch laa.ī hai sar-e-dīvār-e-bāġh

chhat ke nīche muztarib nazzāra-ḳhū

fikrmand āñkhoñ meñ hairāñ putliyāñ

ye kabūtar dekhte thakte nahīñ

dekhte haiñ sochte haiñ kyā kareñ

ye mufakkir kuchh samajh sakte nahīñ

mez par aKHbar ke phaile waraq

bikhre bikhre tera tera chaak chaak

Dhal gai hai qalib-e-alfaz mein

sina-e-hasti ki aah-e-dardnak

pas hi diwar ko Teke hue

radio garm-e-suKHan mahw-e-bayan

chiKHti hain jama-e-awaz mein

KHun ke chhinTe lahu ki bundiyan

sham reading room ki maghmum sham

chand kan elanchi ki baat par

chand aankhen soch mein Dubi huin

murtakiz aKHbar ke safhat par

ek kamre mein simaT kar aa gae

kitne dukhDon ke sada-paikar huruf

kitne dardon ke mistar zamzame

kitne andhe gyani bahre falyasuf

phir bhi kuchh idrak mein aata nahin

kya hai raqs-e-gardish-e-ayyam kya

ek shikasta naw ek KHuni bhanwar

kya hai is afsane ka anjam kya

ye mufakkir kuchh samajh sakte nahin

chhat ke niche rauzanon ke darmiyan

gol gol aankhon ke andar mahw-e-did

kale pare ki muraqqas putliyan

kash ye hairan kabutar jaante

KHufta hai un kaghazon ki satah par

kitne phanakte aashiyanon ka dhuan

kitne naKHchiron ki aahon ke sharar

hain in aawazon ke andar par-kusha

kitne kargas jin ko murdaron ki bu

khinch lai hai sar-e-diwar-e-bagh

chhat ke niche muztarib nazzara-KHu

fikrmand aankhon mein hairan putliyan

ye kabutar dekhte thakte nahin

dekhte hain sochte hain kya karen

ye mufakkir kuchh samajh sakte nahin