Arz kiya hai…
Kamaal ka taana diya aaj mere dil ne,
Kehta hai—koyi tera hai, to kahaan hai…
Zamana samajhta hai ke hans deta hoon aasani se,
Woh kya jaane, is muskurahat ke peeche kitni gardbaan hai.
Har subah ek naye zakham ka paighaam liye aati hai,
Aur har shaam bata deti hai — mohabbat kitni be-meherbaan hai.
Rishte jo khud ko chiraag kehte the andheron mein,
Woh hi hawa ban kar bujha gaye… kya ajeeb kirdaar-e-zamaan hai.
Kabhi kaghaz pe likhte-likhte rooth jaati hai kalam bhi,
Shayad dard ka bojh uske liye bhi kuch zyada samaan hai.
Bahut baar socha, ke dil ko samjha do haqeeqat-e-hayaat,
Par ye khamosh sa aashiq abhi tak pyaar ka hi gumaan hai.
Meri tanhaayi ne mujhse bhi purani dosti kar li,
Ab yeh bhi roz raat ko milne ka ek naya armaan hai.
Bikhri hui ummeedein uthata hoon jaise patjhad ke patte,
Ek pal ko lagta hai sab bekaar, phir lagta hai — yeh hi meri pehchaan hai.
Guzra hua waqt kabhi thoda sa phool deta,
Par ab to yaadon ka har safha sanki aur pareshan hai.
Log kehte hain ke waqt ke saath sab theek ho jaata hai,
Main kehta hoon — woh theek ho sakta hai, jise saccha nuqsaan hai?
Aur jab dil se poochu, ke aakhir kis ki kami me yun toot-ta hoon,
Woh be-dardi se haas kar kehta hai—
“Agar koyi tera hota… to bata, woh kahaan hai?”
Mera dard bhi kya khoob adaa rakhta hai,
Har she’r ke neeche likhta hai — “jo mera tha, woh ab kahaan hai?”
Sher O Shayeri 