ye mast mast ghata, ye bhari bhari barsat
tamam hadd-e-nazar tak ghulawaton ka saman
faza-e-sham mein dore se padte jate hain
jidhar nigah karen kuchh dhuan sa uthta hai
dahak utha hai tarawat ki aanch se aakash
ze-farsh ta-falak angdaiyon ka aalam hai
ye mad-bhari hui purwaiyan sanakti hui
jhinjhodti hai hari daliyon ko sard hawa
ye shakh-sar ke jhulon mein peng padte hue
ye lakhon pattiyon ka nachna ye raqs-e-nabaat
ye be-khudi-e-musarrat ye walihana raqs
ye tal-sam ye chhama-chham ki kan bajte hain
hawa ke dosh pe kuchh udi udi shaklon ki
nashe mein chur si parchhaiyan thirakti hui
ufuq pe dubte din ki jhapakti hain aankhen
khamosh soz-e-darun se sulag rahi hai ye sham!
mere makan ke aage hai ek chauda sahn wasia
kabhi wo hansta nazar aata hai kabhi wo udas
isi ke bich mein hai ek ped pipal ka
suna hai main ne buzurgon se ye ki umr us ki
jo kuchh na hogi to hogi qarib chhiyanwe sal
chhidi thi hind mein jab pahli jang-e-azadi
jise dabane ke baad us ko ghadr kahne lage
ye ahl-e-hind bhi hote hain kis qadar masum
wo dar-o-gir wo aazadi-e-watan ki jang
watan se thi ki ghanim-e-watan se ghaddari
biphar gae the hamare watan ke pir o jawan
dayar-e-hind mein ran pad gaya tha chaar taraf
usi zamane mein kahte hain mere dada ne
jab arz-e-hind sinchi khun se saputon ke
miyan-e-sahn lagaya tha la ke ek pauda
jo aab-o-atish-o-khak-o-hawa se palta hua
khud apne qad se ba-josh-e-numu nikalta hua
fusun-e-ruh banati ragon mein chalta hua
nigah-e-shauq ke sanchon mein roz dhalta hua
suna hai rawiyon se didani thi us ki uthan
har ek ke dekhte hi dekhte chadha parwan
wahi hai aaj ye chhitnar ped pipal ka
wo tahniyon ke kamandal liye jatadhaari
zamana dekhe hue hai ye ped bachpan se
rahi hai is ke liye dakhli kashish mujh mein
raha hun dekhta chup-chap der tak us ko
main kho gaya hun kai bar is nazare mein
wo us ki gahri jaden thin ki zindagi ki jaden?
pas-e-sukun-e-shajar koi dil dhadakta tha
main dekhta tha use hasti-e-bashar ki tarah
kabhi udas kabhi shadman kabhi gambhir
faza ka surmai rang aur ho chala gahra
ghula ghula sa falak hai dhuan dhuan si hai sham
hai jhutputa ki koi azhdaha hai mail-e-khwab
sukut-e-sham mein darmandagi ka aalam hai
ruki ruki si kisi soch mein hai mauj-e-saba
ruki ruki si safen malgaji ghataon ki
utar par hai sar-e-sahn raqs pipal ka
wo kuchh nahin hai ab ek jumbish-e-khafi ke siwa
khud apni kaifiyat-e-nil-gun mein har lahza
ye sham dubti jati hai chhupti jati hai
hijab-e-waqt sire se hai be-his-o-harakat
ruki ruki dil-e-fitrat ki dhadkanen yak-lakht
ye rang-e-sham ki gardish hi aasman mein nahin
bas ek waqfa-e-tarik, lamha-e-shahla
sama mein jumbish-e-mubham si kuchh hui fauran
tuli ghata ke tale bhige bhige patton se
hari hari kai chingariyan si phut padin
ki jaise khulti jhapakti hon be-shumar aankhen
ajab ye aankh-micholi thi nur-o-zulmat ki
suhani narm lawen dete an-ginat jugnu
ghani siyah khunuk pattiyon ke jhurmut se
misal-e-chadar-e-shab-tab jagmagane lage
ki thartharaate hue aansuon se saghar-e-sham
chhalak chhalak pade jaise baghair san guman
butun-e-sham mein in zinda qumqumon ki damak
kisi ki soi hui yaad ko jagati thi
wo be-panah ghata wo bhari bhari barsat
wo scene dekh ke aankhen meri bhar aati thin
meri hayat ne dekhi hain bis barsaten
mere janam hi ke din mar gai thi man meri
wo man ki shakl bhi jis man ki main na dekh saka
jo aankh bhar ke mujhe dekh bhi saki na wo man
main wo pisar hun jo samjha nahin ki man kya hai
mujhe khilaiyon aur daiyon ne pala tha
wo mujh se kahti thin jab ghir ke aati thi barsat
jab aasman mein har su ghataen chhati thin
ba-waqt-e-sham jab udte the har taraf jugnu
diye dikhate hain ye bhuli-bhatki ruhon ko
maza bhi aata tha mujh ko kuchh un ki baaton mein
main un ki baaton mein rah rah ke kho bhi jata tha
par is ke sath hi dil mein kasak si hoti thi
kabhi kabhi ye kasak huk ban ke uthti thi
yatim dil ko mere ye khayal hota tha!
ye sham mujh ko bana deti kash ek jugnu
to man ki bhatki hui ruh ko dikhata rah
kahan kahan wo bichaari bhatak rahi hogi
kahan kahan meri khatir bhatak rahi hogi
ye soch kar meri haalat ajib ho jati
palak ki ot mein jugnu chamakne lagte the
kabhi kabhi to meri hichkiyan si bandh jatin
ki man ke pas kisi tarah main pahunch jaun
aur us ko rah dikhata hua main ghar laun
dikhaun apne khilaune dikhaun apni kitab
kahun ki padh ke suna to meri kitab mujhe
phir is ke baad dikhaun use main wo copy
ki tedhi-medhi lakiren bani thin kuchh jis mein
ye harf the jinhen main ne likkha tha pahle-pahal
aur us ko rah dikhata hua main ghar laun
dikhaun phir use aangan mein wo gulab ki bel
suna hai jis ko usi ne kabhi lagaya tha
ye jab ki baat hai jab meri umr hi kya thi
nazar se guzri thin kal chaar panch barsaten
guzar rahe the mah-o-sal aur mausam par
hamare shahar mein aati thi ghir ke jab barsat
jab aasman mein udte the har taraf jugnu
hawa ki mauj-e-rawan par diye jalae hue
faza mein raat gae jab darakht pipal ka!
hazaron jugnuon se koh-e-tur banta tha
hazaron wadi-e-aiman thin jis ki shakhon mein
ye dekh kar mere dil mein ye huk uthti thi
ki main bhi hota inhin jugnuon mein ek jugnu
to man ki bhatki hui ruh ko dikhata rah
wo man main jis ki mohabbat ke phul chun na saka
wo man main jis se mohabbat ke bol sun na saka
wo man ki bhench ke jis ko kabhi main so na saka
main jis ke aanchalon mein munh chhupa ke ro na saka
wo man ki ghutnon se jis ke kabhi lipat na saka
wo man ki sine se jis ke kabhi chimat na saka
humak ke god mein jis ki kabhi main chadh na saka
main zer-e-saya-e-ummid jis ke badh na saka
wo man main jis se shararat ki dad pa na saka
main jis ke hathon mohabbat ki mar kha na saka
sanwara jis ne na mere jhandule baalon ko
basa saki na jo honton se sune galon ko
jo meri aaankhon mein aankhen kabhi na dal saki
na apne hathon se mujh ko kabhi uchhaal saki
wo man jo koi kahani mujhe suna na saki
mujhe sulane ko jo loriyan bhi ga na saki
wo man jo dudh bhi apna mujhe pila na saki
wo man jo hath se apne mujhe khila na saki
wo man gale se mujhe jo kabhi laga na saki
wo man jo dekhte hi mujh ko muskura na saki
kabhi jo mujh se mithai chhupa ke rakh na saki
kabhi jo mujh se dahi bhi bacha ke rakh na saki
main jis ke hath mein kuchh dekh kar dahak na saka
patak patak ke kabhi panw main thunak na saka
kabhi na khincha shararat se jis ka aanchal bhi
racha saki meri aaankhon mein jo na kajal bhi
wo man jo mere liye titliyan pakad na saki
jo bhagte hue bazu mere jakad na saki
badhaya pyar kabhi kar ke pyar mein na kami
jo munh bana ke kisi din na mujh se ruth saki
jo ye bhi kah na saki ja na bolungi tujh se
jo ek bar khafa bhi na ho saki mujh se
wo jis ko jutha laga munh kabhi dikha na saka
kasafaton pe meri jis ko pyar aa na saka
jo mitti khane pe mujh ko kabhi na pit saki
na hath tham ke mujh ko kabhi ghasit saki
wo man jo guftugu ki rau mein sun ke meri bad
kabhi jo pyar se mujh ko na kah saki ghamad
shararaton se meri jo kabhi ulajh na saki
himaqaton ka meri falsafa samajh na saki
wo man kabhi jise chaunkane ko main luk na saka
main rah chhenkne ko jis ke aage ruk na saka
jo apne hath se bahrup mere bhar na saki
jo apni aaankhon ko aaina mera kar na saki
gale mein dali na bahon ki phul-mala bhi
na dil mein lauh-e-jabin se kiya ujala bhi
wo man kabhi jo mujhe baddhiyan pahna na saki
kabhi mujhe nae kapdon se jo saja na saki
wo man na jis se ladakpan ke jhut bol saka
na jis ke dil ke daran kunjiyon se khol saka
wo man main paise bhi jis ke kabhi chura na saka
saza se bachne ko jhuti qasam bhi kha na saka
wo man ki aayat-e-rahmat hai jis ki chin-e-jabin
wo man ki han se bhi hoti hai badh ke jis ki nahin
dam-e-itab jo banti farishta rahmat ka
jo rag chhedti jhunjhla ke bhi mohabbat ka
wo man ki ghudkiyan bhi jis ke git ban jaen
wo man ki jhidkiyan bhi jis ki phul barsaen
wo man hum us se jo dam bhar ko dushmani kar len
to ye na kah sake ab aao dosti kar len
kabhi jo sun na saki meri totli baaten
jo de saki na kabhi thappadon ki saughaten
wo man bahut se khilaune jo mujh ko de na saki
khiraj-e-sar-khushi-e-sarmadi jo le na saki
wo man main jis se ladai kabhi na than saka
wo man main jis pe kabhi mutthiyan na tan saka
wo meri man main kabhi jis ki pith par na chadha
wo meri man kabhi kuchh jis ke kan mein na rakha
wo man kabhi jo mujhe kardhani pinha na saki
jo tal hath se de kar mujhe nacha na saki
jo mere hath se ek din dawa bhi pi na saki
ki mujh ko zindagi dene mein jaan hi de di
wo man na dekh saka zindagi mein jis ki chah
usi ki bhatakti hui ruh ko dikhata rah
ye soch soch ke aankhen meri bhar aati thin
to ja ke sune bichhaune pe let rahta tha
kisi se ghar mein na raaz apne dil ke kahta tha
yatim thi meri duniya, yatim meri hayat
yatim sham-o-sahar thi, yatim the shab-o-roz
yatim meri padhai thi mere khel yatim
yatim meri masarrat thi mera gham bhi yatim
yatim aansuon se takiya bhig jata tha
kisi se ghar mein na kahta tha apne dil ka bhed
har ek se dur akela udas rahta tha
kisi shamail-e-nadida ko main takta tha
main ek wahshat-e-be-nam se hadakta tha
guzar rahe the mah-o-sal aur mausam par
isi tarah kai barsaten aain aur gain
main rafta rafta pahunchne laga ba-sinn-e-shuur
to jugnuon ki haqiqat samajh mein aane lagi
ab un khilaiyon aur daiyon ki baaton par
mera yaqin na raha mujh pe ho gaya zahir
ki bhatki ruhon ko jugnu nahin dikhate charagh
wo man-ghadat si kahani thi ek fasana tha
wo be-padhi likhi kuchh auraton ki thi bakwas
bhatakti ruhon ko jugnu nahin dikhate charagh
ye khul gaya mere bahlane ko thin ye baaten
mera yaqin na raha in fuzul qisson par
hamare shahar mein aati hain ab bhi barsaten
hamare shahar par ab bhi ghataen chhati hain
hanuz bhigi hui surmai fazaon mein
khutut-e-nur banati hain jugnuon ki safen
faza-e-tira mein udti hui ye qindilen
magar main jaan chuka hun ise bada ho kar
kisi ki ruh ko jugnu nahin dikhate rah
kaha gaya tha jo bachpan mein mujh se jhut tha sab
magar kabhi kabhi hasrat se dil mein kahta hun
ye jaante hue jugnu nahin dikhate charagh
kisi ki bhatakti hui ruh ko magar phir bhi
wo jhut hi sahi kitna hasin jhut tha wo
jo mujh se chhin liya umr ke taqaze ne
main kya bataun wo kitni hasin duniya thi
jo badhti umr ke hathon ne chhin li mujh se
samajh sake koi ai kash ahd-e-tifli ko
jahan dekhna mitti ke ek reze ko
numud-e-lala-e-khud-rau mein dekhna jannat
kare nazara-e-kaunain ek gharaunde mein
utha ke rakh le khudai ko jo hatheli par
kare dawam ko jo qaid ek lamhe mein
suna? wo qadir-e-mutlaq hai ek nannhi si jaan
khuda bhi sajde mein jhuk jae samne us ke
ye aql-o-fahm badi chiz hain mujhe taslim
magar laga nahin sakte hum is ka andaza
ki aadmi ko ye padti hain kis qadar mahngi
ek ek kar ke wo tifli ke har khayal ki maut
bulugh-e-sin mein wo sadme nae khayalon ke
nae khayal ka dhachka nae khayal ki tis
nae tasawwuron ka karb, al-aman ki hayat
tamam zakhm nihan hai tamam nashtar hai
ye chot kha ke sambhalna muhaal hota hai
sukut raat ka jis waqt chhedta hai sitar
kabhi kabhi teri pael ki aati hai jhankar
to meri aaankhon se moti barasne lagte hain
andheri raat ke parchhawen dasne lagte hain
main jugnu ban ke to tujh tak pahunch nahin sakta
jo tujh se ho sake ai man tu wo tariqa bata
tu jis ko pa le wo kaghaz uchhaal dun kaise
ye nazm main tere qadmon mein dal dun kaise
nawa-e-dard se kuchh ji to ho gaya halka
magar jab aati hai barsat kya karun is ko
jab aasman mein udte hain har taraf jugnu
sharab-e-nur liye sabz aabginon mein
kanwal jalate hue zulmaton ke sinon mein
jab un ki tabish-e-be-sakhta se pipal ka
darakht sarw-e-charaghan ko mat karta hai
na jaane kis liye aankhen meri bhar aati hain