Aagahi

main jab tifl-e-maktab tha, har baat, har falsafa jaanta tha
khaDe ho ke mimbar pe pahron salatin-e-parin-o-hazir

hikayat-shirin-o-talKH un ki, un ke daraKHshan jaraem
jo safhat-e-tariKH par karname hain, un ke awamir

nawahi, hakimon ke aqwal, dana KHatibon ke KHutbe
jinhen mustamanadon ne baqi rakkha us ka maKHfi o zahir

funun-e-latifa KHudawand ke hukm-name, faramin
jinhen masKH karte rahe pir-zade jahan ke anasir

har ek saKHt mauzu par is tarah bolta tha ki mujh ko
samundar samajhte the sab ilm o fan ka, har ek meri KHatir

tag-o-dau mein rahta tha, lekin yakayak hua kya ye mujh ko
ye mahsus hota hai sote se uTTha hun, hilne se qasir

kisi bahr ke sune sahil pe baiTha hun gardan jhukae
sar-e-sham aai hai dekho to hai aagahi kitni shatir!