Alaw

hum ajnabi the musafir the KHana-viran the
aur is alaw ke raqsan hinai baaton ne

bula liya hamein apne hasin ishaaron se
to is ki raushni-e-ahmarin ki tabish mein

KHud apne aap ko ek dusre se pahchana
ki hum wo KHana-badoshan-e-zist hain jin ko

azal se apne hi jaise musafiron ki talash
kiye hue hai inhi dasht-o-dar mein sar-gardan

hamari apni sada ajnabi thi apne liye
dilon ne pahle-pahal zer-e-lab kaha hum se

ki ahl-e-zarf-o-ghariban-e-shahr-e-ehsasat
taras rahe hain suKHan-ha-e-guftani ke liye

aur is alaw ke shoalon ne hum se baaten kin
hamari gung zabanon ko phir zabanen din

aur apni apni sunain kahaniyan hum ne
kahaniyan jo haqiqat mein ek jaisi thin

phir is alaw ne hum se kaha ki diwano
wo shai jo shoala-fishan hai tumhaare sinon mein

usi ko zist ka raushan alaw kahte hain
yahi alaw hai jis ne muhib raaton mein

shuur-e-shoala-taraazi ata kiya tum ko
isi alaw se ubhra hai aarzu ka fusun

isi alaw se sikha hai tum ne ism-e-junun
aur is ke baad mujhe yaad hai ki hum sab ne

ye ek ahd kiya tha isi alaw ke gird
ki is ki aag mein KHashak-e-gham jalaenge

aur is alaw ko apna KHuda banaenge