traffic

ye shahr-e-sitam maar detā hai mujh ko

sar-e-rāh shām-o-sahar ke kināre

nazār-o-pareshāñ maiñ shorīda-sar

azhdahām-e-kasālat meñ gum

apne chāroñ taraf ik nazar Dāltā huuñ

to ye sochtā huuñ

ki ye gāḌiyāñ haiñ

yā gāḌī-numā vahshateñ reñgtī haiñ

mujhe vahshateñ Das rahī haiñ

thakan se badan meñ darāḌeñ paḌīñ haiñ

koī manzil-e-be-nishāñ tak nahīñ hai

qadam mere bojhal

mire dast-o-pā shal

nazar aise pathrā ga.ī hai ki jaise

zamīñ ruk ga.ī ho

samajh aise ghabrā ga.ī hai ki jaise

ḳhirad bāḳhtā ho

magar mere panje zamām-e-sitam-hā.e-jāñ musalsal gaḌe haiñ

mayassar nahīñ hai jinheñ istirāhat kā pal

faqat ek hī pal

mire dast-o-pā shal

ziyāfat hai saḌkoñ kī mere

ye ghuTan kī fazā aur ye kaalā dhuāñ

siskiyoñ kī paleToñ meñ vaqt abas hai

ziyāñ ham-nafas hai

qafas hai saḌak hai saḌak hai qafas hai

qafas meñ qatāroñ kī lambī fasīleñ

fasīloñ ke ḳhauf-e-junūñ-ḳhez meñ ab

masāfat tavālat pakaḌne lagī yuuñ

saḌak ban ga.ī ek daldal

mire dast-o-pā shal

ḳhamoshī mire dil ke kone meñ sahmī Darī

shor ke terā ifrīt se bhaag kar

aa ga.ī thī magar

gosh-e-muflis meñ behudgī zahr ban kar

badan kī mulā.em ragoñ ko sukhāne lagī hai

bahut jald dil tak pahuñch jaa.e kī

ḳhāmushī ko dabochegī khā jā.egī

ai mata-e-hunar

mere dil se nikal

yā mirī aag meñ jal

mire dast-o-pā shal

ba-zāhir jo sīdhe nazar aa rahe haiñ

ye sab rāste dā.eroñ kī tarah haiñ

vajūd-e-malāmat meñ phaile hue

be-karāñ fāsloñ ke nishāñ haiñ

jahāñ ḳhilqat-e-be-amāñ ke liye

roz-o-shab marg-e-paiham sazā-vār hone lage haiñ

ye shahr-e-sitam mar deta hai mujh ko

sar-e-rah sham-o-sahar ke kinare

nazar-o-pareshan main shorida-sar

azhdaham-e-kasalat mein gum

apne chaaron taraf ek nazar Dalta hun

to ye sochta hun

ki ye gaDiyan hain

ya gaDi-numa wahshaten rengti hain

mujhe wahshaten Das rahi hain

thakan se badan mein daraDen paDin hain

koi manzil-e-be-nishan tak nahin hai

qadam mere bojhal

mere dast-o-pa shal

nazar aise pathra gai hai ki jaise

zamin ruk gai ho

samajh aise ghabra gai hai ki jaise

KHirad baKHta ho

magar mere panje zamam-e-sitam-hae-jaan musalsal gaDe hain

mayassar nahin hai jinhen istirahat ka pal

faqat ek hi pal

mere dast-o-pa shal

ziyafat hai saDkon ki mere

ye ghuTan ki faza aur ye kala dhuan

siskiyon ki paleTon mein waqt abas hai

ziyan ham-nafas hai

qafas hai saDak hai saDak hai qafas hai

qafas mein qataron ki lambi fasilen

fasilon ke KHauf-e-junun-KHez mein ab

masafat tawalat pakaDne lagi yun

saDak ban gai ek daldal

mere dast-o-pa shal

KHamoshi mere dil ke kone mein sahmi Dari

shor ke tera ifrit se bhag kar

aa gai thi magar

gosh-e-muflis mein behudgi zahr ban kar

badan ki mulaem ragon ko sukhane lagi hai

bahut jald dil tak pahunch jae ki

KHamushi ko dabochegi kha jaegi

ai mata-e-hunar

mere dil se nikal

ya meri aag mein jal

mere dast-o-pa shal

ba-zahir jo sidhe nazar aa rahe hain

ye sab raste daeron ki tarah hain

wajud-e-malamat mein phaile hue

be-karan faslon ke nishan hain

jahan KHilqat-e-be-aman ke liye

roz-o-shab marg-e-paiham saza-war hone lage hain