shahr-e-gharib

raat sunsān aadmī na diyā

kis se pūchhūñ tirī galī kā patā

shahr meñ be-shumār raste haiñ

kyā ḳhabar tū kidhar gayā hogā

aaj kis rū-siyāh āñdhī ne

sabz tāroñ kā khet luuT liyā

tham gaye ret ke ravāñ chashme

so gayā giit sārbānoñ kā

aa rahī hai ye kis ke paaoñ kī chaap

phailtā jā rahā hai sannāTā

ye mire saath chal rahā hai kaun

kis ne mujh ko abhī pukārā thā

sāmne ghūrtī haiñ do āñkheñ

aur pīchhe lagī hai koī balā

Duubī jaatī haiñ raat kī nabzeñ

aa rahī hai koī muhīb sadā

ik taraf be-amāñ ujaaḌ makāñ

ik taraf silsila mazāroñ kā

sar-nigūñ chhatriyāñ khajūroñ kī

baal khole khaḌī ho jaise qazā

ye diyā sā hai kyā añdhere meñ

ho na ho ye makān hai terā

dil to kahtā hai dar pe dastak duuñ

sochtā huuñ ki tū kahegā kyā

jaane kyuuñ maiñ ne haath rok liye

ye mujhe kis ḳhayāl ne gherā

kisī be-nām vahm kī dīmak

aa ga.ī chāTne lahū merā

dasht-e-shab meñ ubhar ke Duub ga.ī

kisī nāgin kī haul-nāk sadā

tere dīvār-o-dar ke sāyoñ par

mujh ko hotā hai saañp kā dhokā

buuTā buuTā hai saañp kī tasvīr

pattā pattā hai saañp kā Tiikā

āsmāñ jaise saañp kī kunDlī

taarā taarā hai saañp kā mankā

aa rahī hai lakīr sāñpoñ kī

har galī meñ hai saañp kā pahrā

saañp hī saañp haiñ jidhar dekho

shahr terā to gaḌh hai sāñpoñ kā

tere ghar kī taraf se merī taraf

baḌhtā aatā hai ek saayā sā

dhuup sā rang barq sī raftār

jism shāḳh-e-gulāb sā patlā

phuul sā phan charāġh sī āñkheñ

ye to raajā hai koī sāñpoñ kā

haañ mirī āstīñ kā saañp hai ye

kyuuñ na ho mujh ko jaan se pyārā

saañp paale haiñ 'umr bhar lekin

aisā zahrī kabhī na dekhā thā

ek hī pal meñ yuuñ huā ġhā.eb

jaise paanī se 'aks bijlī kā

kaT ga.ī phir mire ḳhayāl kī rau

shīsha-e-ḳhvāb-kār TuuT gayā

nā-gahāñ sīTiyāñ sī bajne lagīñ

raat kā shahr pal meñ jaag uThā

āñkheñ khulne lagīñ darīchoñ kī

saañs lene lagī ḳhamosh fazā

maiñ to chup chaap chal rahā thā magar

shahr vāloñ ne jaane kyā samjhā

terī bastī meñ itnī raat gaye

kaun hotā bhalā ye mere sivā

are ye maiñ huuñ terā shahr-e-ġharīb

tū galī meñ to aa ke dekh zarā

sochtā huuñ khaḌā añdhere meñ

to ne darvāza kyuuñ nahīñ kholā

kis ko āvāz duuñ kahāñ jā.ūñ

apnā saayā bhī saath chhoḌ gayā

yahāñ phaltā nahīñ koī aañsū

yahāñ jaltā nahīñ kisī kā diyā

kahāñ le aa.ī tū mujhe taqdīr

maiñ kahāñ aa gayā huuñ mere ḳhudā

terā kyā kaam thā yahāñ 'nāsir'

tū bhalā is nagar meñ kyuuñ aayā

raat sunsan aadmi na diya

kis se puchhun teri gali ka pata

shahr mein be-shumar raste hain

kya KHabar tu kidhar gaya hoga

aaj kis ru-siyah aandhi ne

sabz taron ka khet luT liya

tham gaye ret ke rawan chashme

so gaya git sarbanon ka

aa rahi hai ye kis ke paon ki chap

phailta ja raha hai sannaTa

ye mere sath chal raha hai kaun

kis ne mujh ko abhi pukara tha

samne ghurti hain do aankhen

aur pichhe lagi hai koi bala

Dubi jati hain raat ki nabzen

aa rahi hai koi muhib sada

ek taraf be-aman ujaD makan

ek taraf silsila mazaron ka

sar-nigun chhatriyan khajuron ki

baal khole khaDi ho jaise qaza

ye diya sa hai kya andhere mein

ho na ho ye makan hai tera

dil to kahta hai dar pe dastak dun

sochta hun ki tu kahega kya

jaane kyun main ne hath rok liye

ye mujhe kis KHayal ne ghera

kisi be-nam wahm ki dimak

aa gai chaTne lahu mera

dasht-e-shab mein ubhar ke Dub gai

kisi nagin ki haul-nak sada

tere diwar-o-dar ke sayon par

mujh ko hota hai sanp ka dhoka

buTa buTa hai sanp ki taswir

patta patta hai sanp ka Tika

aasman jaise sanp ki kunDli

tara tara hai sanp ka manka

aa rahi hai lakir sanpon ki

har gali mein hai sanp ka pahra

sanp hi sanp hain jidhar dekho

shahr tera to gaDh hai sanpon ka

tere ghar ki taraf se meri taraf

baDhta aata hai ek saya sa

dhup sa rang barq si raftar

jism shaKH-e-gulab sa patla

phul sa phan charagh si aankhen

ye to raja hai koi sanpon ka

han meri aastin ka sanp hai ye

kyun na ho mujh ko jaan se pyara

sanp pale hain 'umr bhar lekin

aisa zahri kabhi na dekha tha

ek hi pal mein yun hua ghaeb

jaise pani se 'aks bijli ka

kaT gai phir mere KHayal ki rau

shisha-e-KHwab-kar TuT gaya

na-gahan siTiyan si bajne lagin

raat ka shahr pal mein jag uTha

aankhen khulne lagin darichon ki

sans lene lagi KHamosh faza

main to chup chap chal raha tha magar

shahr walon ne jaane kya samjha

teri basti mein itni raat gaye

kaun hota bhala ye mere siwa

are ye main hun tera shahr-e-gharib

tu gali mein to aa ke dekh zara

sochta hun khaDa andhere mein

to ne darwaza kyun nahin khola

kis ko aawaz dun kahan jaun

apna saya bhi sath chhoD gaya

yahan phalta nahin koi aansu

yahan jalta nahin kisi ka diya

kahan le aai tu mujhe taqdir

main kahan aa gaya hun mere KHuda

tera kya kaam tha yahan 'nasir'

tu bhala is nagar mein kyun aaya