shahr-nama

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