shahr-ashob

jin dinoñ

maiñ apnī tanhā.ī kā nauha likh rahā thā

bastiyāñ ābād thiiñ raunaq bharī thī shaam

aur jaaḌā gulābī

taaza taaza shahr meñ dāḳhil huā thā

jin dinoñ maiñ

pā-pyāda aur phir sadā zabāñ meñ

soz-hā-e-andarūñ ke qissa-e-pārīna kī tafsīl meñ ta.abīr meñ

uljhā huā thā

bheḌiye āzād the

aur ek qātil raag

bajātā jā rahā thā

ḳhūb-tar se ḳhūb-tar thā

qatl kā naġhma

jis ne jo samjhā vahī tārīḳh thī

ḳhvāja-sarā-e-shahr dārussaltanat meñ

karbalā ke huzn meñ

ek vahshiyāna raqs kī taḳhlīq meñ masraf thā

aur sab tamāshā.ī sabhī maqtūl saare

dam-ba-ḳhud mab.hūt ḳhāmoshī se sunte jā rahe the

aur mausīqī se lag-bhag nā-balad har shaḳhs

aglī saf meñ baiThā

taal kī har gat par har jhankār pe

behāl hotā jā rahā thā

ek qātil aur surīlā raag

bajātā jā rahā thā

jin dinon

main apni tanhai ka nauha likh raha tha

bastiyan aabaad thin raunaq bhari thi sham

aur jaDa gulabi

taza taza shahr mein daKHil hua tha

jin dinon main

pa-pyaada aur phir sada zaban mein

soz-ha-e-andarun ke qissa-e-parina ki tafsil mein tabir mein

uljha hua tha

bheDiye aazad the

aur ek qatil rag

bajata ja raha tha

KHub-tar se KHub-tar tha

qatl ka naghma

jis ne jo samjha wahi tariKH thi

KHwaja-sara-e-shahr darussaltanat mein

karbala ke huzn mein

ek wahshiyana raqs ki taKHliq mein masraf tha

aur sab tamashai sabhi maqtul sare

dam-ba-KHud mabhut KHamoshi se sunte ja rahe the

aur mausiqi se lag-bhag na-balad har shaKHs

agli saf mein baiTha

tal ki har gat par har jhankar pe

behaal hota ja raha tha

ek qatil aur surila rag

bajata ja raha tha