shahr-nama

vo ajiib sub.h-e-bahār thī

ki sahar se nauhagarī rahī

mirī bastiyāñ thiiñ dhuāñ-dhuāñ

mire ghar meñ aag bharī rahī

mire rāste the lahū-lahū

mirā qarya qarya figār thā

ye kaf-e-havā pe zamīn thī

vo falak kī musht-e-ġhubār thā

ka.ī ābshār se jism the

ki jo qatra-qatra pighal ga.e

ka.ī ḳhush-jamāl tilism the

jinheñ gard-bād nigal ga.e

koī ḳhvāb nok-e-sināñ pe thā

koī aarzū tah-e-sang thī

koī phuul aabla aabla

koī shāḳh marqad-e-rang thī

ka.ī lāpata merī lo'bateñ

jo kisī taraf kī na ho sakīñ

jo na aane vāloñ ke saath thiiñ

jo na jaane vāloñ ko ro sakīñ

ka.ī taar saaz se kaT ga.e

kisī mutriba kī rag-e-gulū

mai-e-ātishīñ meñ vo zahr thā

ki taḌaḳh ga.e qadah-o-subū

koī nai-navāz thā dam-ba-ḳhud

ki nafas se hiddat-e-jāñ ga.ī

koī sar-ba-zānū thā 'bārbad'

ki sadā-e-dost kahāñ ga.ī

kahīñ naġhmagī meñ vo bain the

ki samā.atoñ ne sune nahīñ

kahīñ gūñjte the vo marsiye

ki 'anīs' ne bhī kahe nahīñ

ye jo sang-rezoñ ke Dher haiñ

yahāñ motiyoñ kī dukān thī

ye jo sā.ebān dhueñ ke haiñ

yahāñ bādaloñ kī uḌaan thī

jahāñ raushnī hai khañDar khañDar

yahāñ qumqumoñ se javān the

jahāñ chyūñTiyāñ huiiñ ḳhema-zan

yahāñ jugnūoñ ke makān the

kahīñ ābgīna ḳhayāl kā

ki jo karb-e-zabt se chuur thā

kahīñ ā.īna kisī yaad kā

ki jo aks-e-yār se duur thā

mire bismiloñ kī qanā.ateñ

jo baḌhā.eñ zulm ke hausle

mire āhūoñ kā chakīda ḳhuuñ

jo shikāriyoñ ko surāġh de

mirī adl-gāhoñ kī maslahat

mire qātiloñ kī vakīl hai

mire ḳhānqāhoñ kī manzilat

mirī buzdilī kī dalīl hai

mire ahl-e-harf-o-suḳhan-sarā

jo gadāgaroñ meñ badal ga.e

mire ham-safīr the hīla-jū

kisī aur samt nikal ga.e

ka.ī fāḳhtāoñ kī chaal meñ

mujhe kargasoñ kā chalan lagā

ka.ī chāñd bhī the siyāh rū

ka.ī sūrajoñ ko gahan lagā

koī tājir-e-hasb-o-nasab

koī dīñ-farosh qadīm hai

yahāñ kafsh-bar bhī imaam haiñ

yahāñ na.at-ḳhvāñ bhī kalīm hai

koī fikrmand kulāh kā

koī da.ave-dār qabā kā hai

vahī ahl-e-dil bhī haiñ zeb-tan

jo libās ahl-e-riyā kā hai

mire pāsbāñ mire naqb-zan

mirā mulk mulk-e-yatīm hai

mirā des mīr-e-sipāh kā

mirā shahr māl-e-ġhanīm hai

jo ravish hai sāhib-e-taḳht kī

so musāhiboñ kā tarīq hai

yahāñ kotvāl bhī duzd-e-shab

yahāñ shaiḳh-e-dīñ bhī farīq hai

yahāñ sab ke narḳh judā judā

ise mol lo ise taul do

jo talab kare koī ḳhūñ-bahā

to dahan ḳhazāne kā khol do

vo jo sar-kashī kā ho murtakib

use qamchiyoñ se zubūñ karo

jahāñ ḳhalq-e-shahr ho mushta.il

use goliyoñ se nigūñ karo

magar aise aise ġhanī bhī the

isī qaht-zār-e-damishq meñ

jinheñ kū-e-yār aziiz thā

jo khaḌe the maqtal-e-ishq meñ

koī bāñkpan meñ thā kohkan

to junūñ meñ qais sā thā koī

jo surāhiyāñ liye jism kī

mai-e-nāb ḳhuuñ se bharī huī

the sadā-ba-lab ki piyo piyo

ye sabīl ahl-e-safā kī hai

ye nashīd nosh-e-badan karo

ye kashīd tāk-e-vafā kī hai

koī tishna-lab hī na thā yahāñ

jo pukārtā ki idhar udhar

sabhī muft-bar the tamāsh-bīñ

koī bazm meñ koī baam par

sabhī be-hisī ke ḳhumār meñ

sabhī apne haal meñ mast the

sabhī rahravān-e-rah-e-adam

magar apne zo'm meñ hast the

so lahū ke jaam uñDel kar

mire jāñ-farosh chale ga.e

vo sukūt thā sar-e-mai-kada

ki vo nam-badosh chale ga.e

koī mahbasoñ meñ rasan-ba-pā

koī maqtaloñ meñ darīda tan

na kisī ke haath meñ shāḳh-e-nai

na kisī ke lab pe gul-e-suḳhan

isī arsa-e-shab-e-tār meñ

yūñhī ek umr guzar ga.ī

kabhī roz-e-vasl bhī dekhte

ye jo aarzū thī vo mar ga.ī

yahāñ roz hashr bapā hue

pe koī bhī roz-e-jazā nahīñ

yahāñ zindagī bhī azaab hai

yahāñ maut meñ bhī shifā nahīñ

wo ajib subh-e-bahaar thi

ki sahar se nauhagari rahi

meri bastiyan thin dhuan-dhuan

mere ghar mein aag bhari rahi

mere raste the lahu-lahu

mera qarya qarya figar tha

ye kaf-e-hawa pe zamin thi

wo falak ki musht-e-ghubar tha

kai aabshaar se jism the

ki jo qatra-qatra pighal gae

kai KHush-jamal tilism the

jinhen gard-baad nigal gae

koi KHwab nok-e-sinan pe tha

koi aarzu tah-e-sang thi

koi phul aabla aabla

koi shaKH marqad-e-rang thi

kai lapata meri lo'baten

jo kisi taraf ki na ho sakin

jo na aane walon ke sath thin

jo na jaane walon ko ro sakin

kai tar saz se kaT gae

kisi mutriba ki rag-e-gulu

mai-e-atishin mein wo zahr tha

ki taDaKH gae qadah-o-subu

koi nai-nawaz tha dam-ba-KHud

ki nafas se hiddat-e-jaan gai

koi sar-ba-zanu tha 'barbad'

ki sada-e-dost kahan gai

kahin naghmagi mein wo bain the

ki samaaton ne sune nahin

kahin gunjte the wo marsiye

ki 'anis' ne bhi kahe nahin

ye jo sang-rezon ke Dher hain

yahan motiyon ki dukan thi

ye jo saeban dhuen ke hain

yahan baadalon ki uDan thi

jahan raushni hai khanDar khanDar

yahan qumqumon se jawan the

jahan chyunTiyan huin KHema-zan

yahan jugnuon ke makan the

kahin aabgina KHayal ka

ki jo karb-e-zabt se chur tha

kahin aaina kisi yaad ka

ki jo aks-e-yar se dur tha

mere bismilon ki qanaaten

jo baDhaen zulm ke hausle

mere aahuon ka chakida KHun

jo shikariyon ko suragh de

meri adl-gahon ki maslahat

mere qatilon ki wakil hai

mere KHanqahon ki manzilat

meri buzdili ki dalil hai

mere ahl-e-harf-o-suKHan-sara

jo gadagaron mein badal gae

mere ham-safir the hila-ju

kisi aur samt nikal gae

kai faKHtaon ki chaal mein

mujhe kargason ka chalan laga

kai chand bhi the siyah ru

kai surajon ko gahan laga

koi tajir-e-hasb-o-nasab

koi din-farosh qadim hai

yahan kafsh-bar bhi imam hain

yahan nat-KHwan bhi kalim hai

koi fikrmand kulah ka

koi dawe-dar qaba ka hai

wahi ahl-e-dil bhi hain zeb-tan

jo libas ahl-e-riya ka hai

mere pasban mere naqb-zan

mera mulk mulk-e-yatim hai

mera des mir-e-sipah ka

mera shahr mal-e-ghanim hai

jo rawish hai sahib-e-taKHt ki

so musahibon ka tariq hai

yahan kotwal bhi duzd-e-shab

yahan shaiKH-e-din bhi fariq hai

yahan sab ke narKH juda juda

ise mol lo ise taul do

jo talab kare koi KHun-baha

to dahan KHazane ka khol do

wo jo sar-kashi ka ho murtakib

use qamchiyon se zubun karo

jahan KHalq-e-shahr ho mushtail

use goliyon se nigun karo

magar aise aise ghani bhi the

isi qaht-zar-e-damishq mein

jinhen ku-e-yar aziz tha

jo khaDe the maqtal-e-ishq mein

koi bankpan mein tha kohkan

to junun mein qais sa tha koi

jo surahiyan liye jism ki

mai-e-nab KHun se bhari hui

the sada-ba-lab ki piyo piyo

ye sabil ahl-e-safa ki hai

ye nashid nosh-e-badan karo

ye kashid tak-e-wafa ki hai

koi tishna-lab hi na tha yahan

jo pukarta ki idhar udhar

sabhi muft-bar the tamash-bin

koi bazm mein koi baam par

sabhi be-hisi ke KHumar mein

sabhi apne haal mein mast the

sabhi rahrawan-e-rah-e-adam

magar apne zo'm mein hast the

so lahu ke jam unDel kar

mere jaan-farosh chale gae

wo sukut tha sar-e-mai-kada

ki wo nam-badosh chale gae

koi mahbason mein rasan-ba-pa

koi maqtalon mein darida tan

na kisi ke hath mein shaKH-e-nai

na kisi ke lab pe gul-e-suKHan

isi arsa-e-shab-e-tar mein

yunhi ek umr guzar gai

kabhi roz-e-wasl bhi dekhte

ye jo aarzu thi wo mar gai

yahan roz hashr bapa hue

pe koi bhi roz-e-jaza nahin

yahan zindagi bhi azab hai

yahan maut mein bhi shifa nahin