rah-rawan-e-arzu

sahar huī to kise ḳhabar thī

ki chāñd niklā thā jab falak par to kyā samay thā

siyāh rātoñ meñ jaane kitne sitāre chupke se jhilmilā kar

fasīl-e-shab meñ naqab lagā kar

vafūr-e-tīra-shabī ke hāthoñ hī jal bujhe the

ḳhalā ke pahlū meñ aise kitne shahāb TuuTe sitāre Duube kise ḳhabar hai

kise ḳhabar hai ki raat jugnū chamak rahe the

charāġh bām-e-hunar pe har sū damak rahe the

magar ye manzar kisī kī nazroñ se kyā guzarte

ḳharosh kartī vo bād-e-sarsar

har ik diye ke liye payām-e-ajal banī thī

bas ek lamhe kī raushnī thī

vahī ḳhushī thī

hubāb sūrat nasīb ubhre jo kahkashāñ par

zamāna TukḌoñ meñ baT gayā thā

vujūd ḳhud meñ simaT gayā thā

hisār-e-zulmat meñ gard hote 'amīq jazboñ ko kis ne dekhā

hai koī shāhid gavāh koī

kise batā.eñ sarāb lamhoñ ke ratjagoñ meñ

jo ḳhvāb tā'bīr ho na paa.e

kahāñ ga.e vo

muhīb rātoñ meñ daur۔e-'ujlat kā azhdahā thā

jo ḳhvāb-o-ḳhvāhish nigal rahā thā

umīd-o-imkāñ ko Das gayā thā

ki zahr-e-ġhaflat bharā huā thā ragoñ meñ us kī

ye kaun samjhe

ye kaun jaane

riyāzatoñ kī

murāqboñ kī

tavīl rāteñ guzār kar bhī

jo aañkh kholī

to din nahīñ thā

sahar hui to kise KHabar thi

ki chand nikla tha jab falak par to kya samay tha

siyah raaton mein jaane kitne sitare chupke se jhilmila kar

fasil-e-shab mein naqab laga kar

wafur-e-tira-shabi ke hathon hi jal bujhe the

KHala ke pahlu mein aise kitne shahab TuTe sitare Dube kise KHabar hai

kise KHabar hai ki raat jugnu chamak rahe the

charagh baam-e-hunar pe har su damak rahe the

magar ye manzar kisi ki nazron se kya guzarte

KHarosh karti wo baad-e-sarsar

har ek diye ke liye payam-e-ajal bani thi

bas ek lamhe ki raushni thi

wahi KHushi thi

hubab surat nasib ubhre jo kahkashan par

zamana TukDon mein baT gaya tha

wujud KHud mein simaT gaya tha

hisar-e-zulmat mein gard hote 'amiq jazbon ko kis ne dekha

hai koi shahid gawah koi

kise bataen sarab lamhon ke ratjagon mein

jo KHwab ta'bir ho na pae

kahan gae wo

muhib raaton mein daur۔e-'ujlat ka azhdaha tha

jo KHwab-o-KHwahish nigal raha tha

umid-o-imkan ko Das gaya tha

ki zahr-e-ghaflat bhara hua tha ragon mein us ki

ye kaun samjhe

ye kaun jaane

riyazaton ki

muraqbon ki

tawil raaten guzar kar bhi

jo aankh kholi

to din nahin tha