Yeh Shaam Shaam Zindagi

Raat orrhay huay aai hai faqeeron ka libas
Chaand kashkol e gadaai ki tarah nadim hai
Dil main dehkay huay nasoor liye betha hoon
Yehi masoom tasawur jo tera mujrim hai

Kaum yeh waqt ke ghoonghat se bulata hai mujhay
Kis ke makhmoor isharay hain ghataaon ke qareeb
Kaun aaya hai charhaanay ko tamannaon ke phool
In sulagtay huay lamhon ki chita'on ke qareeb
Wo to toofan thi, selaab ne pala tha usay
Us ki madhosh umangon ka fasoon kya kehiye
Thartharatay huay seemab ki tafseer bhi kya
Raqs kertay huay sholay ka junoon kya kehiye

Raqs ab khatam hua maut ki wadi main magar
Kisi payal ki sada rooh main paainda hai
Chup gya apnay nihan khanay main sooraj lekin
Dil main sooraj ki ik awara kiran zinda hai
Kaun janay keh yeh aawara kiran bhi chup jaye
Kaun janay keh idhar dhund ka badal na chattay

Kis ko maloom keh payal ki sada bhi kho jaye
Kis ko maloom keh yeh raat bhi kaatay na katay
Zindagi neend main doobay huay mandir ki tarah
Ehd e rafta ke her aik butt ko liye soti hai
Ghantiyan ab bhi magar bajti hain seenay ke qareeb
Ab bhi kehnay ko, kai baar seher hoti hai

Mustafa Zaidi