Zaruraton ki hamahami mein jo rah chalte bhi Tokti hai wo shairi hai

zaruraton ki hamahami mein jo rah chalte bhi Tokti hai wo shairi hai
main jis se aankhen chura raha hun jo meri ninden chura rahi hai wo shairi hai

jo aag sine mein pal rahi hai machal rahi hai bayan bhi ho to ayan na hogi
magar in aankhon ke aablon mein jo jal rahi hai pighal rahi hai wo shairi hai

tha ek talatum mai-e-taKHayyul ke jam-o-KHum mein to jal-tarangon pe chhiD gai dhun
jo parda-dar-e-nashat-e-gham hai jo zaKHma-kar-e-nawa-gari hai wo shairi hai

yahan to har din hai ek sunami hai ek jaisi har ek kahani to kya sunoge
magar wo ek KHasta-haal kashti jo misl-e-lasha paDi hui hai wo shairi hai

hai baadalon ke siyah ghoDon ke sath warna hawa ki parchhain kis ne dekhi
dhuli dhuli dhup ke badan par jo chhanw jaisi subuk-rawi hai wo shairi hai

wahi to kal surmai chaTanon ke darmiyan se guzar rahi thi biphar rahi thi
wahi nadi ab thaki thaki si jo ret ban kar bikhar gai hai wo shairi hai

ghaDi ki Tik-Tik dilon ki dhak dhak se baat karti agar tanaffus muKHil na hota
to aisi shiddat ki gu-magu mein jo ham-kalami ki KHamushi hai wo shairi hai

jo qahqahon aur qumqumon se saji-dhaji hai usi gali se guzar ke dekho
andhere zinon pe sar-ba-zanu jo bekasi KHun thukti hai wo shairi hai

na hijraton ke hain dagh baqi na apni gum-gashtagi ka koi suragh baqi
so ab jo tari hai sogwari jo apni fitrat se matami hai wo shairi hai

hai lala-zar-e-ufuq se aage abhi jo dhundla sa ek sitara hai istiara
jo hogi tira-shabi mein raushan wo koi zohra na mushtari hai wo shairi hai

ghuzashtagani hai zindagani na ye hawa hai na hai ye pani faqat rawani
jo waqiati hai wo hai qissa jo waqai hai wo shairi

jo husn-e-manzar hai canwas par wo rangrezi nahin barash ki to aur kya hai
ab is se aage koi nazar jis jahan-e-mani ko DhunDhti hai wo shairi hai

ye sher-goi wo KHud-faramosh kaifiyat hai jahan KHudi ka guzar nahin hai
KHudi ki baz-awari se pahle jo be-KHudi ki KHud-agahi hai wo shairi hai

jo wardati sadaqaton ki alamaten hain hadis-e-dil ki riwayaten hain
usi amanat ko jo hamesha sambhaalti hai sanwarti hai wo shairi hai

ana ke dam se hai naz-e-hasti ana ke jalwon ka aaina-dar hai har ek fan
wo KHud-numai jo KHushnuma hai magar jo thoDi si nargisi hai wo shairi hai

jo baat nasri hai nazriyati hai jadliyati hai wo mukammal kabhi na hogi
magar jo mujmal hai aur mauzun hai aur hatmi aur aaKHiri hai wo shairi hai

tijaraton ki siyasaten ab adab ki KHidmat-guzariyon mein lagi hui hain
jo ji raha hai jo ga raha hai mushaera hai jo mar rahi hai wo shairi hai

jo dida-rezi bhi jaan-gudazi ke sath hogi to lafz sare guhar banenge
'KHalish' yaqinan ye sirf zor-e-qalam nahin hai jo shairi hai wo shairi hai