Shahr gum-sum

buildingen zishan unchi
shah-rahon ke kinaron par khaDi thin

shahrahen aati jati gaDiyon caron se pur thin
qahwa-KHanon parkon galiyon mahlon aur gharon mein

zindagi mamul ki raftar se chalti thi lekin
bahr ke sahil ki golai se ham-aghosh

milon tak ye aabaadi ka maskan
ek KHamoshi ki rida oDhe hue tha

gung be-awaz gum-sum
jaise logon ki zabanen kaT gai hon

gaDiyon ka shor saDkon mein hi dafnaya gaya ho
bilDigon ki gahma-gahmi

apna dam sadhe hue pamba-dahan ho
sirf harakat ho magar la-saut gungi

dusri jaanib samundar
shor se aabaad baDhta phailta wapas simaTta

harkat-o-awaz ka azali namuna
shashdar-o-hairan sa

shorida-sar pagal hawa se puchhta tha
shahr ko kya ho gaya hai

aur phir jaise jawaban
bahr ki lahron se Takraati hui pagal hawa ne

koi jadu kar diya ho
aur sahil par paDe KHamosh naquson ke andar

bahr ke sare bilalon ki azanen phunk di hon
aur un unchi azanon ne lab-e-sahil se uTh kar

shah-rahon qahwa-KHanon parkon galiyon gharon ki KHamushi ko
ek uluhi saut ka malbus sa pahna diya ho

aur yakayak
shahr apni quwwat-e-goyai ki baKHshish ko phir se pa gaya ho

buildingen zishan hain aali-nishan hain
gaDiyan caren Tramen chal rahi hain

qahwa-KHanon parkon galiyon gharon mein
shor-o-ghul hai zindagi hai

shahr ab jaga hua hai