Ji main hai aaj ki shab us kay liyay jaag kay kati jaiy
wo jo aankhoon say paray
ajnabi dais ki gumnaam hawaoon main baithi hai
kia muhab’bat kay liyay yeh bhi zaroori hai kay main
us kay chehray ko khad-o-khaal main la kar daikhoon?
sach to yeh hai kay mujhay yaad nahi, kay uski jabeen kaisi thee?
hoont kaisay thay, badan kaisa tha, aankhain kaisi theen?
bas yeh yaad hai kay wo jaisi nazar aati thee
us say kaheen achi thee.
(ye mah-o-saal ka toofan bohut zalim hai
wo agar pass bhi hoti to kisay khabar hai kaisi hoti?)
yun to har raat mairay dil par garaan guzarti hai
phir bhi aiy bhoolay howay, tu hi bata
ghum ki zanjeer bhala
jagtay, soochtay rehnay say kahan kat’ti hai
yeh jo aahut si abhi nikhat-e-gul ki tarah phaili hai
tairay qadmoon ki sadaa lagti hai
jab kabhi koi jahaz yaad ki shama liyay ghum ki baichain hawaoon say guzarta hai to dil
sham-e-furqat kay tasav’vur say laraz uthta hai
Sham-e-furqat! jo haqeeqat hai magar khwab numa lagti hai
chaand jab abar kay tukroon par safar karta hai to yun lagta hai
main bhi ik abar ka tukra hoon jisay taira visaal
taira ik lamha-e-visaal
daimi hijr kay undooh-e-musalsal kay ivaz baar nahi!
aiy mujhay abar kay tukray ki tarha choor kay janay walay
tairay bakhshay howay lamhay kay ivaz
kia mujhay daina para, is say sarokaar nahi
paanchveen salgirah judai ki aaj manaoon shab bhar
sham-e-furqat ki tarah, ashk bahaoon shab bhar
phir airport ki railing par tikka kay kohni
tairay rukhsat ka smaan dihaan main laoon shab bhar
tu jo roti hoi aankhoon say paray
ajnabi dais ki gumnaam hawaoon main kaheen baithi hai
(Amjad Islam Amjad)