Ruh-e-awara

yas-KHez subhon se
be-sukun shamon se

bhagne ki kawish ne
kitni rahguzaron ke

pech-o-KHam ke jalwon se
aashna karaya hai

dar-ba-dar phiraya hai
jaane kab ye hosh aaya

subh-o-sham be-mani
be-sukun-e-be-ummid

phir to silsila nikla
lamha-ha-e-kawish ka

chain kho gaya din ka
nind uD gai shab ki

justuju ka ye chakkar
khinch le gaya har pal

jaane kis taraf lekin
har qadam hua ehsas

main gunah karta hun
umr kyun ganwata hun

kawishon ka kya hasil
har qadam sameTe hain

KHar na-umidi ke
ek din ka qissa hai

chalte chalte pahuncha hun
ek jagah jo viran thi

kuchh daraKHt phaile the
ja-ba-ja pareshan se

ek daraKHt par gidh the
intizar mein baiThe

aur maqbare the kuchh
pur-sukun tha mahaul

dil-pasand tha behad
jaane kyun ye lagta tha

apni subh shamon se
apni be-sukuni se

apni na-umidi se
chhuTne ka waqt aaya

pai-ba-pai har ek lamha
hosh ho rahe the gham

aur dil ko lagta tha
zist wahm ho jaise

KHwab ya ki afsana
dafatan uThi ek chiKH

ruh tak taDap uTThi
chiKH jaane kis ki hai

hae ye to meri hai
aur barq ki surat

main wahan se palTa hun
is KHamosh aalam se

be-KHudi ki duniya se
jab palaT ke dekha hai

ruh muskuraati thi
meri ruh-e-awara

aur hasin lagti thi