ban-bas

maiñ ki ḳhud apnī hī āvāz ke sho.aloñ kā asiir

maiñ ki ḳhud apnī hī zanjīr kā zindānī huuñ

kaun samjhegā jahāñ meñ mire zaḳhmoñ kā hisāb

kis ko ḳhush aa.egā is dahr meñ rūhoñ kā azaab

kaun aa kar mire miTne kā tamāshā dekhe

kis ko fursat ki ujaḌtī huī duniyā dekhe

kaun bhaḌkī huī is aag ko apnā.egā

jo bhī aa.egā mire saath hī jal jā.egā

vo ghaḌī kaun thī jab mujh ko milā thā ban-bās

ek jhoñkā bhī havā kā na vatan se aayā

ne koī nik.hat-e-gul aur na koī mauj-e-nasīm

phir koī DhūñDne mujh ko na chaman se aayā

maiñ vo ik laal huuñ jo bik gayā bāzāroñ meñ

phir koī pūchhne mujh ko na yaman se aayā

yaad karte hue ik yūsuf-e-gum-gashta ko

kuchh dinoñ roī to hogī mire ghar kī dīvār

kuchh dinoñ gaañv kī galiyoñ meñ udāsī hogī

kuchh dinoñ khul na sake hoñge tire haar siñghār

kuchh dinoñ ke liye sunsān sā lagtā hogā

aam ke baaġh meñ bechain phirī hogī bahār

maiñ ne ik peḌ pe jo naam likhā thā apnā

kuchh dinoñ zaḳhm ke mānind vo taaza hogā

mere sab dost use dekh ke kahte hoñge

jaane kis des meñ bechāra bhaTaktā hogā

umr bhar kaun kise yaad kiyā kartā hai

ek ik kar ke mujhe sab ne bhulāyā hogā

haa.e un ko bhī ḳhabar kyā ki vo ik zaḳhm-nasīb

zindagī ke liye niklā thā jo raahī ban kar

aaj tak pā na sakā chashma-e-āb-e-haivāñ

us ko sūraj bhī mile haiñ to siyāhī ban kar

ghar se laayā thā jo kuchh tab-e-ravāñ zehn-e-rasā

saath us ke rahe asbāb-e-tabāhī ban kar

merā ye jurm ki maiñ sāhab-e-idrāk-o-shu.ūr

merā ye aib ki ik shā.ir o fankār huuñ maiñ

mujh ko ye zid hai ki maiñ sar na jhukā.ūñgā kabhī

mujh ko isrār ki jiine kā sazā-vār huuñ maiñ

mujh ko ye faḳhr ki maiñ haqq-o-sadāqat kā amiiñ

mujh ko ye zo.am ḳhud-āgāh huuñ ḳhuddār huuñ maiñ

ek ik moḌ pe ālām o masā.ib ke pahāḌ

ek ik gaam pe āfāt se Takrāyā huuñ

ek ik zahr ko hañs hañs ke piyā hai maiñ ne

ek ik zaḳhm ko chun chun ke uThā laayā huuñ

ek ik lamhe kī zanjīr se maiñ uljhā huuñ

ek ik saañs pe ḳhud aap se sharmāyā huuñ

yuuñ to kahne kī nahīñ baat magar kahtā huuñ

pyaar kā naam kitāboñ meñ likhā dekhā hai

jab kabhī haath baḌhāyā hai kisī kī jānib

fāsla aur bhī kuchh baḌhtā huā dekhā hai

buuñd bhar de na sakā koī mohabbat kī sharāb

yuuñ to mai-ḳhāne kā mai-ḳhāna luTā dekhā hai

main ki KHud apni hi aawaz ke shoalon ka asir

main ki KHud apni hi zanjir ka zindani hun

kaun samjhega jahan mein mere zaKHmon ka hisab

kis ko KHush aaega is dahr mein ruhon ka azab

kaun aa kar mere miTne ka tamasha dekhe

kis ko fursat ki ujaDti hui duniya dekhe

kaun bhaDki hui is aag ko apnaega

jo bhi aaega mere sath hi jal jaega

wo ghaDi kaun thi jab mujh ko mila tha ban-bas

ek jhonka bhi hawa ka na watan se aaya

ne koi nikhat-e-gul aur na koi mauj-e-nasim

phir koi DhunDne mujh ko na chaman se aaya

main wo ek lal hun jo bik gaya bazaron mein

phir koi puchhne mujh ko na yaman se aaya

yaad karte hue ek yusuf-e-gum-gashta ko

kuchh dinon roi to hogi mere ghar ki diwar

kuchh dinon ganw ki galiyon mein udasi hogi

kuchh dinon khul na sake honge tere haar singhaar

kuchh dinon ke liye sunsan sa lagta hoga

aam ke bagh mein bechain phiri hogi bahaar

main ne ek peD pe jo nam likha tha apna

kuchh dinon zaKHm ke manind wo taza hoga

mere sab dost use dekh ke kahte honge

jaane kis des mein bechaara bhaTakta hoga

umr bhar kaun kise yaad kiya karta hai

ek ek kar ke mujhe sab ne bhulaya hoga

hae un ko bhi KHabar kya ki wo ek zaKHm-nasib

zindagi ke liye nikla tha jo rahi ban kar

aaj tak pa na saka chashma-e-ab-e-haiwan

us ko suraj bhi mile hain to siyahi ban kar

ghar se laya tha jo kuchh tab-e-rawan zehn-e-rasa

sath us ke rahe asbab-e-tabahi ban kar

mera ye jurm ki main sahab-e-idrak-o-shuur

mera ye aib ki ek shair o fankar hun main

mujh ko ye zid hai ki main sar na jhukaunga kabhi

mujh ko israr ki jine ka saza-war hun main

mujh ko ye faKHr ki main haqq-o-sadaqat ka amin

mujh ko ye zoam KHud-agah hun KHuddar hun main

ek ek moD pe aalam o masaib ke pahaD

ek ek gam pe aafat se Takraya hun

ek ek zahr ko hans hans ke piya hai main ne

ek ek zaKHm ko chun chun ke uTha laya hun

ek ek lamhe ki zanjir se main uljha hun

ek ek sans pe KHud aap se sharmaya hun

yun to kahne ki nahin baat magar kahta hun

pyar ka nam kitabon mein likha dekha hai

jab kabhi hath baDhaya hai kisi ki jaanib

fasla aur bhi kuchh baDhta hua dekha hai

bund bhar de na saka koi mohabbat ki sharab

yun to mai-KHane ka mai-KHana luTa dekha hai