kis kaa chehra DhunDaa dhuup aur chhaanv mein — Zulfeqar Ahmad Tabish

ye dar-o-divaar par be-naam se chup-chaap saae
phulon raston aur bachchon ki hifaazat chaahte hain

peDon ki ghani chhaanv aur chait ki hiddat thi
aur aise bhaTakne mein anjaan si lazzat thi

ye naqsh-e-khushnumaa dar-asl naqsh-e-aajizi hai
ki asl-e-husn to andesha-e-bahzaad mein hai

vo saaneha huaa thaa ki bas dil dahal gae!
ik shab mein saare shahr ke chehre badal gae

hamaare shahr mein aane ki surat chaahti hain
havaaein baaryaabi ki ijaazat chaahti hain

mere khvaabon ke jharokon ko sajaate rahiye
na sahi vasl magar yaad to aate rahiye

hamaaraa ishq ravaan hai rukaavaTon mein 'zafar'
ye khvaab hai kisi divaar se nahin ruktaa

afsos umr kaT gai ranj-o-malaal mein
dekhaa na khvaab mein bhi jo kuchh thaa khayaal mein

par katar paai jab na khvaabon ke
band hi kar diin khiDkiyaan main ne

khvaab Thahre the to aankhein bhigne se bach gaiin
varna chehre par to gham ki baarishon kaa aks hai

balaa-e-jaan thi jo bazm-e-tamaashaa chhoD di main ne
khushaa ai zindagi khvaabon ki duniyaa chhoD di main ne