Dariche ke qarib

jag ai sham-e-shabistan-e-visal
mahfil-e-KHwab ke is farsh-e-tarab-nak se jag!

lazzat-e-shab se tera jism abhi chur sahi
aa meri jaan mere pas dariche ke qarib

dekh kis pyar se anwar-e-sahar chumte hain
masjid-e-shahar ke minaron ko

jin ki rifat se mujhe
apni barson ki tamanna ka KHayal aata hai

sim-gun hathon se ai jaan zara
khol mai-rang junun-KHez aankhen

usi minar ko dekh
subh ke nur se shadab sahi

usi minar ke sae tale kuchh yaad bhi hai
apne bekar KHuda ki manind

unghta hai kisi tarik nihan-KHane mein
ek aflas ka mara hua mulla-e-hazin

ek ifrit udas
tin sau sal ki zillat ka nishan

aisi zillat ke nahin jis ka mudawa koi
dekh bazar mein logon ka hujum

be-panah sail ke manind rawan
jaise jinnat bayabanon mein

mishalen le ke sar-e-sham nikal aate hain
un mein har shaKHs ke sine ke kisi goshe mein

ek dulhan si bani baiThi hai
TimTimati hui nannhi si KHudi ki qindil

lekin itni bhi tawanai nahin
baDh ke un mein se koi shola-e-jawwala bane!

in mein muflis bhi hain bimar bhi hain
zer-e-aflak magar zulm sahe jate hain

ek buDha sa thaka-manda sa rahwar hun main
bhuk ka shah-sawar

saKHt-gir aur tanomand bhi hai
main bhi is shahr ke logon ki tarah

har shab-e-aish guzar jaane par
ba-har-e-jam-e-KHas-o-KHashak nikal jata hun

charKH gardan hai jahan
sham ko phir usi kashane mein lauT aata hun

bebasi meri zara dekh ke main
masjid-e-shahr ke minaron ko

is dariche mein se phir jhankta hun
jab unhen aalam-e-ruKHsat mein shafaq chumti hai