ye naqsh-e-khushnumaa dar-asl naqsh-e-aajizi hai — 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

kis kaa chehra DhunDaa dhuup aur chhaanv mein
aur khvaabon mein rang bhare to kis ke liye

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

ret par ik nishaan hai shaayad
ye hamaaraa makaan hai shaayad

shaahraahein dafatan shoale ugalne lag gaiin
ghar ki jaanib chal paDaa hai shahr gheraa kar tamaam

zamaana mujh se judaa ho gayaa zamaana huaa
rahaa hai ab to bichhaDne ko mujh se tu baaqi

kaho kyaa mehrbaan naa-mehrbaan taqdir hoti hai
kahaa maan ki duaaon mein baDi taasir hoti hai

aasmaan jhaank rahaa hai 'khaalid'
chaand kamre mein mire utraa hai

ghulaami mein na kaam aati hain shamshirein na tadbirein
jo ho zauq-e-yaqin paidaa to kaT jaati hain zanjirein