kuchh nahīñ samjhā huuñ itnā muḳhtasar paiġhām thā
kyā havā thī jis havā ke haath par paiġhām thā

us ko aanā thā ki vo mujh ko bulātā thā kahīñ
raat bhar bārish thī us kā raat bhar paiġhām thā

lene vaalā hī koī baaqī nahīñ thā shahr meñ
varna to us shaam koī dar-ba-dar paiġhām thā

muntazir thī jaise ḳhud hī tinkā tinkā aarzū
ḳhār-o-ḳhas ke vāste goyā sharar paiġhām thā

kyā musāfir the ki the ranj-e-safar se be-niyāz
aane jaane ke liye ik rah-guzar paiġhām thā

koī kāġhaz ek maile se lifāfe meñ thā band
khol kar dekhā to us meñ sar-ba-sar paiġhām thā

har qadam par rāstoñ ke rañg the bikhre hue
chalne vāloñ ke liye apnā safar paiġhām thā

kuchh sifat us meñ parindoñ aur pattoñ kī bhī thī
kitnī shādābī thī aur kaisā shajar paiġhām thā

aur to laayā na thā paiġhām saath apne 'zafar'
jo bhī thā us kā yahī aib o hunar paiġhām thā

kuchh nahin samjha hun itna muKHtasar paigham tha
kya hawa thi jis hawa ke hath par paigham tha

us ko aana tha ki wo mujh ko bulata tha kahin
raat bhar barish thi us ka raat bhar paigham tha

lene wala hi koi baqi nahin tha shahr mein
warna to us sham koi dar-ba-dar paigham tha

muntazir thi jaise KHud hi tinka tinka aarzu
KHar-o-KHas ke waste goya sharar paigham tha

kya musafir the ki the ranj-e-safar se be-niyaz
aane jaane ke liye ek rah-guzar paigham tha

koi kaghaz ek maile se lifafe mein tha band
khol kar dekha to us mein sar-ba-sar paigham tha

har qadam par raston ke rang the bikhre hue
chalne walon ke liye apna safar paigham tha

kuchh sifat us mein parindon aur patton ki bhi thi
kitni shadabi thi aur kaisa shajar paigham tha

aur to laya na tha paigham sath apne 'zafar'
jo bhi tha us ka yahi aib o hunar paigham tha