tanKHwah ki tariKH

chand kitābeñ ik biivī do bachche haiñ

kyā kyā kuchh is chhoTī sī duniyā meñ hai

is chhoTī sī duniyā kā maiñ hākim huuñ

biivī bachche sab mere mahkūm haiñ par

ghūrte rahte haiñ ye apne hākim ko

hasrat yās-bharī nazroñ se shām-o-sahar

chhoTī chhoTī āñkhoñ meñ haiñ ḳhvāb baḌe

in baḌe ḳhvāboñ ko jab maiñ suntā huuñ

hairat ke 'ālam meñ sar ko dhuntā huuñ

aane vaalī hai tārīḳh jo tanḳhvāh kī

sochtā huuñ is maah vo sab kuchh le lūñgā

jin ke ḳhvāb sajā rakkhe haiñ bachchoñ ne

biivī kī tākīd hai jin ke baare meñ

ghar ke kuchh sāmān jo ab ke lene haiñ

tel masāle aur rāshan bhī laanā hai

bijlī kā bill gas cylinder duudh kā ḳharch

bachchoñ ke schōl ke juute lene haiñ

ammī aur abbū kī davā.ī laanī hai

aur bharnī hai fees bhī saarī Tuition kī

chand kitābeñ apnī bhī bulvānī hai

jin ke kuchh na.e edition aa.e haiñ

mīr-o-ġhālib ke she'roñ kī kuchh sharheñ

manTo aur bedī ke kuchh afsāne haiñ

'fārūqī' kī aur 'hanfī' kī tanqīdeñ

kuchh sīrat kuchh qur.āñ kī tafsīreñ haiñ

lekin jab tanḳhvāh kī aatī hai tārīḳh

tab mujh ko ehsās ye hone lagtā hai

ye tanḳhvāh jo ab ke milne vaalī hai

ye milne se pahle hī baT jaatī hai

chand kitaben ek biwi do bachche hain

kya kya kuchh is chhoTi si duniya mein hai

is chhoTi si duniya ka main hakim hun

biwi bachche sab mere mahkum hain par

ghurte rahte hain ye apne hakim ko

hasrat yas-bhari nazron se sham-o-sahar

chhoTi chhoTi aankhon mein hain KHwab baDe

in baDe KHwabon ko jab main sunta hun

hairat ke 'alam mein sar ko dhunta hun

aane wali hai tariKH jo tanKHwah ki

sochta hun is mah wo sab kuchh le lunga

jin ke KHwab saja rakkhe hain bachchon ne

biwi ki takid hai jin ke bare mein

ghar ke kuchh saman jo ab ke lene hain

tel masale aur rashan bhi lana hai

bijli ka bill gas cylinder dudh ka KHarch

bachchon ke school ke jute lene hain

ammi aur abbu ki dawai lani hai

aur bharni hai fees bhi sari Tuition ki

chand kitaben apni bhi bulwani hai

jin ke kuchh nae edition aae hain

mir-o-ghaalib ke she'ron ki kuchh sharhen

manTo aur bedi ke kuchh afsane hain

'faruqi' ki aur 'hanfi' ki tanqiden

kuchh sirat kuchh quran ki tafsiren hain

lekin jab tanKHwah ki aati hai tariKH

tab mujh ko ehsas ye hone lagta hai

ye tanKHwah jo ab ke milne wali hai

ye milne se pahle hi baT jati hai