shahr mein

baañs kī koñpaloñ kī tarah raat kī raat baḌhtī huī laḌkiyo

aa.ine ke har ik zāviye se ulajhtī huī laḌkiyo

tasht-e-sīmāb jhalkātī jhuktī huī laḌkiyo

nit-na.e mausamoñ kī tarah mujh pe biitī huī laḌkiyo

mere hone ko taslīm kar lo to aage baḌhīñ

ḳhvāb-dar-ḳhvāb bas ek hī ḳhvāb hai

mere hone kā ḳhvāb

bhāgte rāstoñ meñ koī sañg raftār-paimā batā de

ki maiñ chal rahā thā

bhiiḌ meñ chalte chalte achānak koī mujh ko kahnī se aage baḌhā de

ki maiñ rahnumā thā

koī fan kī devī

surayyā se utre

mujhe apne andar samo le

koī merī āñkhoñ meñ chubhte hue zarra-e-reg ke vāste

apne āñchal kā konā bhigo le

mujhe rishta-e-jism-o-jāñ meñ piro le

koī bas ghaḌī-do-ghaḌī saath ho le

yā mujhe qulzum-e-ḳhud-farāmoshī-e-māvarā meñ Dubo le

ḳhvāb-dar-ḳhvāb bas ek hī ḳhvāb hai

mere hone kā ḳhvāb

sāñvlī laḌkiyo champa.ī laḌkiyo nit-na.ī laḌkiyo

mere hone ko taslīm kar lo to aage baḌheñ

kaun jaane daraḳhtoñ ke pīchhe na.ī ḳhushbueñ

rāste bhar hamārā svāgat kareñ

kaun jaane ki aahaT se Dartī huī faḌfaḌātī huī fāḳhtā.eñ

hamāre suroñ par sipar taan deñ

aur ham sarsarāte hue āñchaloñ kī huā oḌh kar so raheñ

yā mirī jān-e-jāñ

kaun jaane ki aate dinoñ meñ kisī roz andhī saḌak par

kisī chīḳhte bhūñkte kaale kutte se Darte hue

ham achānak kahīñ aa mileñ

ajnabī rāstoñ kī taraf chal paḌeñ

zehn meñ ḳhvāb kā silsila phailtā ho

aañkh meñ niiñd kā zā.iqa tairtā ho

bahar-taur āsūdgī hai

aur kohre kī chādar

aur sileTī parindoñ kī mānind sāhil ko tārīk kartī huī shaam hai

aur yaḳh-basta gahrī darāḌeñ

aur marmar ke bhārī sutūnoñ se lipTī huī laḌkiyāñ haiñ

aur fasīloñ ke us paar tātār-o-taimūr kā ḳhauf hai

aur us paar talvār aur ḳhanjar uThā.e hue ahlakārān-e-afvāj bedār haiñ

pālkī nālkī

aur kahāroñ kī āvāz biibī haTo

ab ke bārish ne mehñdī ke peḌoñ kī saarī hinā chhīn lī hai

maiñ ki be-chehra

jismoñ ke jañgal meñ hone kā ik ḳhvāb le kar chalā thā

so ab sar-ba-zānū paḌā huuñ

sāñvlī laḌkiyo champa.ī laḌkiyo nit-na.ī laḌkiyo

is gadāgar ke kashkol kī sansanāhaT suno

mere hone kā mātam karo

apne hone kā mātam karo

aur har āte-jāte musāfir se ro kar kaho

shahr meñ ḳhairiyat ke sivā kuchh nahīñ hai

bans ki konpalon ki tarah raat ki raat baDhti hui laDkiyo

aaine ke har ek zawiye se ulajhti hui laDkiyo

tasht-e-simab jhalkati jhukti hui laDkiyo

nit-nae mausamon ki tarah mujh pe biti hui laDkiyo

mere hone ko taslim kar lo to aage baDhin

KHwab-dar-KHwab bas ek hi KHwab hai

mere hone ka KHwab

bhagte raston mein koi sang raftar-paima bata de

ki main chal raha tha

bhiD mein chalte chalte achanak koi mujh ko kahni se aage baDha de

ki main rahnuma tha

koi fan ki dewi

surayya se utre

mujhe apne andar samo le

koi meri aankhon mein chubhte hue zarra-e-reg ke waste

apne aanchal ka kona bhigo le

mujhe rishta-e-jism-o-jaan mein piro le

koi bas ghaDi-do-ghaDi sath ho le

ya mujhe qulzum-e-KHud-faramoshi-e-mawara mein Dubo le

KHwab-dar-KHwab bas ek hi KHwab hai

mere hone ka KHwab

sanwli laDkiyo champai laDkiyo nit-nai laDkiyo

mere hone ko taslim kar lo to aage baDhen

kaun jaane daraKHton ke pichhe nai KHushbuen

raste bhar hamara swagat karen

kaun jaane ki aahaT se Darti hui faDfaDati hui faKHtaen

hamare suron par sipar tan den

aur hum sarsaraate hue aanchalon ki hua oDh kar so rahen

ya meri jaan-e-jaan

kaun jaane ki aate dinon mein kisi roz andhi saDak par

kisi chiKHte bhunkte kale kutte se Darte hue

hum achanak kahin aa milen

ajnabi raston ki taraf chal paDen

zehn mein KHwab ka silsila phailta ho

aankh mein nind ka zaiqa tairta ho

bahar-taur aasudgi hai

aur kohre ki chadar

aur sileTi parindon ki manind sahil ko tarik karti hui sham hai

aur yaKH-basta gahri daraDen

aur marmar ke bhaari sutunon se lipTi hui laDkiyan hain

aur fasilon ke us par tatar-o-taimur ka KHauf hai

aur us par talwar aur KHanjar uThae hue ahlakaran-e-afwaj bedar hain

palki nalki

aur kahaaron ki aawaz bibi haTo

ab ke barish ne mehndi ke peDon ki sari hina chhin li hai

main ki be-chehra

jismon ke jangal mein hone ka ek KHwab le kar chala tha

so ab sar-ba-zanu paDa hun

sanwli laDkiyo champai laDkiyo nit-nai laDkiyo

is gadagar ke kashkol ki sansanahaT suno

mere hone ka matam karo

apne hone ka matam karo

aur har aate-jate musafir se ro kar kaho

shahr mein KHairiyat ke siwa kuchh nahin hai