Salam Machhli Shahri

tum sharab pi kar bhi hosh-mand rahte ho
jaane kyuun mujhe aisi mai-kashi nahin aa.i

kaash tum samajh saktin zindagi men sha.er ki aise din bhi aate hain
jab usi ke parvarda chand us pe hanste hain phuul muskurate hain

ajiib baat hai main jab bhi kuchh udaas hua
diya sahara harifon ki bad-duaon ne

meri maut ai saaqi irtiqa hai hasti ka
ik 'salam' jaata hai ek aane vaala hai

yuun hi ankhon men aa ga.e aansu
ja.iye aap koi baat nahin

raat dil ko tha sahar ka intizar
ab ye gham hai kyuun savera ho gaya

ai mire ghar ki fazaaon se gurezaan mahtaab
apne ghar ke dar-o-divaar ko kaise chhoDun

ab maa-hasal hayaat kaa bas ye hai ai 'salaam'
cigarette jalaai sher kahe shaadmaan hue

gham musalsal ho to ahbaab bichhaD jaate hain
ab na koi dil-e-tanhaa ke qarin aaegaa

kabhi kabhi arz-e-gham ki khaatir ham ik bahaanaa bhi chaahte hain
jab aansuon se bhari hon aankhein to muskuraanaa bhi chaahte hain

raat dil ko thaa sahar kaa intizaar
ab ye gham hai kyuun saveraa ho gayaa

yuun hi aankhon mein aa gae aansu
jaaiye aap koi baat nahin