zindan ki ek sham

sham ke pech-o-kham sitaron se
zina zina utar rahi hai raat
yun saba pas se guzarti hai
jaise kah di kisi ne pyar ki baat


sehn-e-zindan ke be-watan ashjar
sar-nigun mahw hain banane mein
daman-e-asman pe naqsh-o-nigar
shana-e-baam par damakta hai


mehrban chandni ka dast-e-jamil
khak mein ghul gai hai aab-e-nujum
nur mein ghul gaya hai arsh ka nil
sabz goshon mein nil-gun sae


lahlahate hain jis tarah dil mein
mauj-e-dard-e-firaq-e-yar aae
dil se paiham khayal kahta hai
itni shirin hai zindagi is pal


zulm ka zahr gholne wale
kaamran ho sakenge aaj na kal
jalwa-gah-e-visal ki shamen
wo bujha bhi chuke agar to kya


chand ko gul karen to hum jaanen
a prison nightfall

the night descends


step by silent step
down the stairway of stars.
the breeze goes by me
like a kindly whispered phrase.


the homeless trees of the prison yard
are absorbed making patterns
against the sky.



on the roof’s high crest
the loving hand of moonlight rest.
the starry river is drowned in dust
and the sky glows silver with moonlight.


in the dark foliage
shadows play with the wind
as a wave of painful loss
invades the heart.



defiantly
a thought tells me
how sweet life is at this instant:


those who brew the poison of cruelty
will not win
tomorrow or today.
they can put out the lamps


where lovers meet

they cannot blind the moon!