surKH sitara

tum samajhte ho ye shab aap hī Dhal jā.egī

ḳhud hī ubhregā na.ī sub.h kā zarrīñ parcham

maiñ samajhtā huuñ kisī sub.h-e-daraḳhshāñ ke evaz

qahr kī ek na.ī raat ko degī ye janam

aur us raat kī tārīkī meñ kho jā.eñge

maktab o ḳhānqah o dair o kalīsā o haram

dev-e-zulmāt kī Thokar se na pā.eñge panāh

ye shivāle, ye masājid, ye pujārī, ye sanam

rakh diye jā.eñge shamshīr ke zer-e-sāya

dast-e-mātam lab-e-fariyād, zabān o tanqīd

barf jam jā.egī afkār ke gulzāroñ par

yaḳh havāoñ meñ hī jam jā.egī kisht-e-ummīd

chāñdnī zulmat-e-sayyāl meñ Dhal jā.egī

raat kī maañg sañvāregī shuā-e-ummīd

ahl-e-fan deñge añdheroñ ko ujāloñ kā laqab

zahr ko qand, moharram ko kahā jā.egā iid

ye mirā vahm nahīñ, novel o afsāna nahīñ

dosto! ġhaur karo, aur nigāheñ to uThāo

vo jo ik surḳh sitāra hai ufuq ke nazdīk

kuchh tumheñ ilm hai kis ruḳh pe hai us kā phailāo

kaash tum us kī haqīqat pe nazar Daal sako

hai ye ik ātish-e-sad-barq-badāmāñ kā alaav

is kī kirnoñ meñ hai chaltī huī talvār kī kaaT

is kī surḳhī meñ hai umDe hue dariyā kā bahāv

is ke dāman meñ hai āsūda vo fitna jis se

jism to jism mayassar nahīñ rūhoñ ko amaañ

dil, nazar, zehn, ḳhayālāt, usuul o aqdār

sab ke sab is kī tag-o-tāz se larzāñ tarsāñ

is kī parchhā.īñ bhī paḌ jaa.e to sabza jal jaa.e

dekhte dekhte māhaul pe chhā jaa.e dhuāñ

is ke sho.aloñ kā to kyā zikr ki sho.ale Thahre

is kī shabnam bhī gulistāñ ke liye barq-e-tapāñ

tum samajhte ho ye shab aap hi Dhal jaegi

KHud hi ubhrega nai subh ka zarrin parcham

main samajhta hun kisi subh-e-daraKHshan ke ewaz

qahr ki ek nai raat ko degi ye janam

aur us raat ki tariki mein kho jaenge

maktab o KHanqah o dair o kalisa o haram

dew-e-zulmat ki Thokar se na paenge panah

ye shiwale, ye masajid, ye pujari, ye sanam

rakh diye jaenge shamshir ke zer-e-saya

dast-e-matam lab-e-fariyaad, zaban o tanqid

barf jam jaegi afkar ke gulzaron par

yaKH hawaon mein hi jam jaegi kisht-e-ummid

chandni zulmat-e-sayyal mein Dhal jaegi

raat ki mang sanwaregi shua-e-ummid

ahl-e-fan denge andheron ko ujalon ka laqab

zahr ko qand, moharram ko kaha jaega id

ye mera wahm nahin, nowel o afsana nahin

dosto! ghaur karo, aur nigahen to uThao

wo jo ek surKH sitara hai ufuq ke nazdik

kuchh tumhein ilm hai kis ruKH pe hai us ka phailao

kash tum us ki haqiqat pe nazar Dal sako

hai ye ek aatish-e-sad-barq-badaman ka alaw

is ki kirnon mein hai chalti hui talwar ki kaT

is ki surKHi mein hai umDe hue dariya ka bahaw

is ke daman mein hai aasuda wo fitna jis se

jism to jism mayassar nahin ruhon ko aman

dil, nazar, zehn, KHayalat, usul o aqdar

sab ke sab is ki tag-o-taz se larzan tarsan

is ki parchhain bhi paD jae to sabza jal jae

dekhte dekhte mahaul pe chha jae dhuan

is ke shoalon ka to kya zikr ki shoale Thahre

is ki shabnam bhi gulistan ke liye barq-e-tapan