saya-e-abr se puchho 'sarvat' — Sarvat Husain

shahzaadi tujhe kaun bataae tere charaag-kade tak
kitni mehraabein paDti hain kitne dar aate hain

kyuun girafta-dil nazar aati hai ai shaam-e-firaaq
ham jo tere naaz uThaane ke liye maujud hain

jise anjaam tum samajhti ho
ibtidaa hai kisi kahaani ki

ik daastaan ab bhi sunaate hain farsh o baam
vo kaun thi jo raqs ke aalam mein mar gai

siyaahi pherti jaati hain raatein bahr o bar pe
inhi taarikiyon se mujh ko bhi hissa milegaa

teri aashufta-mizaaji ai dil
kyaa khabar kaun nagar le jaae

pyaaso raho na dasht mein baarish ke muntazir
maaro zamin pe paanv ki paani nikal paDe

vo gulaabi baadalon mein ek niili jhiil si
hosh qaaem kaise rahte thaa hi kuchh aisaa libaas

kyaa isi ne ye kiyaa matla-e-abru mauzun
tum jo kahte ho sukhan-go hai baDi meri aankh

aur baazaar se kyaa le jaaun
pahli baarish kaa mazaa le jaaun

aisi hi ek shab mein kisi se milaa thaa dil
baarish ke saath saath barasti hai raushni

ik dhuup si tani hui baadal ke aar-paar
ik pyaas hai ruki hui jharne ke baavajud