Ek Nazm

main sard-mehr zindagi se kya talab karun

talab to ek bahr hai

zindagi to sans ki lapakti ek lahar hai

jo aa ke phir guzar gai

chand sal us ke naqsh-e-pa

yahin kahin kisi ke zehn mein rahe

main dekhta hun

shaKH-e-umr zard mausamon ki dhup mein

isi KHayal-e-KHam mein

ki waqt ghaDi ki qaid mein hai

barg barg jhuk gai hai

zindagi ne kya diya mujhe

tarah tarah ke aarize dimagh ka buKHar

iKHtilal aur hawas ke shuur ka malal

raat ko main jagta rahun

tamam din baqa ki aarzu mein afsaron ke KHauf se

nashist-gah-e-intizar mein bahut hi phiki muskurahaTon ke sath

faisle ke intizar mein lahu ki gardishon ke sath

zat ki azim saltanat ko aag mein lipTa dekhta rahun

ye cigareton ka nil-gun dhuan ghubar hi ghubar

bhagta sawar asp ka sunahri nal raste mein chhoD kar kidhar gaya

ye shor ab kidhar se aa raha hai

ghaur se suno

nahin ye kuchh nahin

main intizar ki tawil saaton mein naKHunon se mez ko baja raha hun

par wo kaghazon mein gharq hai

bahut qadim raat ibtida se intiha ke la-zawal bahr mein utar gaya hun

sare din ke gham ko main

nashe ki ek rida mein Dhanp dun

magar nasha haram jurm hai

to phir palaT ke main KHayal mein muqim ishraton ko aainon mein dekh lun

laziz thartharaate jism

Dhol ki dhamak pe lahar lahar khil rahe hain

al-aman muharramat

main sard-mehr zindagi se kya talab karun

ki wo bhi KHud asir hai