Kutton Ka Nauha

purani baat hai

lekin ye anhoni si lagti hai

bani-quddus ke beTon ka

ye dastur tha

wo apni shamshiren

niyamon mein na rakhte the

musallah ho ke sote the

aur un ke KHub-ru gabru

kase tiron ki surat

raat-bhar

mishal-ba-kaf

KHemon ke bahar jagte rahte

bani-quddus ke beTe

balaon aur azabon ko

hamesha laghzish-e-pa ka sila ginte

gunahon se hazar karte

magar ek din

ki wo manhus saat thi KHarabi ki

zanan-e-nim-uryan dekh kar KHana-ba-doshon ki

kuchh aise mar-miTe

jab raat aai to

bani-quddus ke beTon ki shamshiren

niyamon mein paDi thin

aur diwaron pe laTki thin

wo pahli raat thi

KHemon ke bahar ghup-andhera tha

faza mein dur tak

kutton ki aawazon ka nauha tha