Monday, December 25, 2000

Ghazal 24: shab ko mahtaab naheeN, subh' ko Khursheed naheeN




shab ko mahtaab naheeN, subh' ko Khursheed naheeN
haaye voh zeest, kih jis meiN kaheeN ummeed naheeN!

ba'ad ik 'umr ke yeh 'uqda khulaa hai mujh par
taalib-e-deed to hooN, mustahaq-e-deed naheeN

kyaa kahaa aap ne? ik baar to phir se kahiye
voh kare, aur meri baat ki taa'eed? naheeN!

voh ho maujood to har roz hai roz-e-barakat!
voh agar saath na ho, 'Eid bhi phir 'Eid naheeN!

lab par us kee hi sanaa, dil meiN hai us kaa hi Khayaal!
phir bhi duniyaa ka hai israar: yeh tauheed naheeN!

jaane kyoN ab bhi usee se hai vafaa kee Khwaahish
jis se ulfat ki ko'ee soorat-e-tajdeed naheeN!!

us pe zaay'a na gayaa jins-e-giraaN.maaya`e-'ishq
tajriba Khoob thaa -- is baat ki tardeed naheeN!

ahl-e-minbar bhi Khilaaf, ahl-e-KhumistaaN bhi Khafaa
dil-e-bad.baKht! kahaaN par tiri tanqeed naheeN?

chaak-e-daamaan-e-Khirad, chaak-e-gireebaan-e-anaa
voh junooN kyaa hai, 'ayaaN jis meiN yeh tajreed naheeN!?

chal kaheeN door tu is shehr se 'naadaaN,' kih yahaaN
rasm-e-ulfat ka ko'ee banda`e-taqleed naheeN!


(DECEMBER 25, 2000 - ARLINGTON, TX - USA)