Gharib Shahr

ajib hain meri baaten ajib hai ehsas

tumhein KHuda na kare ye guman guzarte hon

ki bambai ka ye gambhir sin-rasida shahr

imaraton ka ye phaila hua ghana jangal

malamaton ka balaon ka raqs-KHana hai

har ek shaKHs hai aaseb-e-zar mein naza-ba-lab

ki sans khul nahin sakti hai mar nahin sakta

ajib hain meri baaten ajib hai ehsas

tumhein KHuda na kare ye guman guzarte hon

ki bambai ka hasin shahr koi aurat hai

saji-sajai sanwari hui jawan aurat

pa jis ki ruh gunahon ka ek jahannam hai

jawan jism jhulaste hain us ke shoalon mein

magar ye jaan ke har ek jawan hai mohr-ba-lab

mere gunah ko ruswaiyan nahin miltin

ajib hain meri baaten ajib hai ehsas

tumhein KHuda na kare ye guman guzarte hon

ye shahr shahr nigaran-e-mah-paiakar hai

yahan pe chand andheron mein qatl hote hain

yahan hunar ko mata-e-wafa mayassar hai

yahan pe roTiyan rakkhi hain jutiyon ke tale

ajib hain meri baaten ajib hai ehsas

tumhein KHuda na kare ye guman guzarte hon

ki aadmi to bahar-haal be-sahaara hai

yahan sawal mile raston pe soe hue

yahan jawab mile uljhanon mein khoe hue

yahan wo hath mile jin ka lams zinda hai

yahan wo jism mile jin ki aag raushan hai

ajib hain meri baaten ajib hai ehsas

tumhein KHuda na kare ye guman guzarte hon

udas habs-zada dopahar ka har lamha

sabaat-e-tishna-labi aazma ke jata hai

fasana shab-e-hijran ka tul hai jaise

umid-e-wasl mein jina sikha ke jata hai

kuchh aise kaTte hain din raat kya KHabar tum ko

mata-e-umr luTata hun shahr-e-ghurbat mein

tumhaari did ki ummid miT gai hoti

to apni maut ek ilzam thi mohabbat mein

ajib hain meri baaten ajib hai ehsas

tumhein KHuda na kare ye guman guzarte hon

kisi udas shab-e-mah mein kabhi jab main

garajte chiKHte chinghaDte samundar se

ye puchhta hun tujhe kab sukun milta hai

kabhi tahon mein hai halchal kabhi kinaron par

kabhi hai sath pe shoridgi kabhi dil mein

to thoDi der samundar udas rahta hai

phir us ke baad milata hai hath maujon ke

KHuda gawah samundar mujhe bulata hai!

ab aa ki mujh se teri ruh ko ilaqa hai

ab aa ki main to tere pas aa nahin sakta

ajib hain meri baaten ajib hai ehsas

tumhein KHuda na kare ye guman guzarte hon!