sham ke pech-o-KHam sitaron se
zina zina utar rahi hai raat
yun saba pas se guzarti hai
jaise kah di kisi ne pyar ki baat
sehn-e-zindan ke be-watan ashjar
sar-nigun mahw hain banane mein
daman-e-asman pe naqsh-o-nigar
shana-e-baam par damakta hai
mehrban chandni ka dast-e-jamil
KHak mein ghul gai hai aab-e-nujum
nur mein ghul gaya hai arsh ka nil
sabz goshon mein nil-gun sae
lahlahate hain jis tarah dil mein
mauj-e-dard-e-firaq-e-yar aae
A Prison Nightfall
dil se paiham KHayal kahta hai
itni shirin hai zindagi is pal
zulm ka zahr gholne wale
kaamran ho sakenge aaj na kal
jalwa-gah-e-visal ki shamen
wo bujha bhi chuke agar to kya
chand ko gul karen to hum jaanen
The night descends
step by silent step
down the stairway of stars.
The breeze goes by me
like a kindly whispered phrase.
The homeless trees of the prison yard
Are absorbed making patterns
against the sky.
Nazm
Zindan ki ek sham
Faiz Ahmad Faiz