bazm-e-yaaraan mein baiThtaa huun magar — Masood Tanha

bahut khaamosh rahtaa hai jo 'tanhaa'
vo mahfil mein baraabar boltaa hai

shahr mein raunaqein sahi 'tanhaa'
apne gaanv se mat kinaaraa kar

dost hi khubiyaan bataate hain
dost hi khaamiyaan nikaalte hain

ye tamaashaa sar-e-baazaar nahin ho saktaa
har koi meraa kharidaar nahin ho saktaa

dasht-e-ghurbat mein ham-safar na banaa
ham kai mehrbaan chhoD aae

yaadon ke qaafile mein udaasi thi ham-rikaab
hijrat mein tere shahr se 'tanhaa' nahin gae

jab ki pahlu se yaar uThtaa hai
dard be-ikhtiyaar uThtaa hai

suntaa rahtaa huun to vo kuchh bhi kahe jaataa hai
us ko lagtaa hai ki me'yaar yahi hai apnaa

mujhe rahnaa thaa tiri aankh mein aansu ki tarah
main to naakaam huun ai dost sitaara ban kar

khud apne gham hi se ki pahle dosti ham ne
aur us ke baa'd gham-e-dostaan ko pahchaanaa

agar vo aaj raat hadd-e-iltifaat toD de
kabhi phir us se pyaar kaa khayaal bhi na aaegaa

mumkin hai ashk ban ke rahun chashm-e-yaar mein
mumkin hai bhuul jaae gham-e-rozgaar mein