Aagahi

main jab tifl-e-maktab tha, har baat, har falsafa jaanta tha

khaDe ho ke mimbar pe pahron salatin-e-parin-o-hazir

hikayat-shirin-o-talKH un ki, un ke daraKHshan jaraem

jo safhat-e-tariKH par karname hain, un ke awamir

nawahi, hakimon ke aqwal, dana KHatibon ke KHutbe

jinhen mustamanadon ne baqi rakkha us ka maKHfi o zahir

funun-e-latifa KHudawand ke hukm-name, faramin

jinhen masKH karte rahe pir-zade jahan ke anasir

har ek saKHt mauzu par is tarah bolta tha ki mujh ko

samundar samajhte the sab ilm o fan ka, har ek meri KHatir

tag-o-dau mein rahta tha, lekin yakayak hua kya ye mujh ko

ye mahsus hota hai sote se uTTha hun, hilne se qasir

kisi bahr ke sune sahil pe baiTha hun gardan jhukae

sar-e-sham aai hai dekho to hai aagahi kitni shatir!