sitam havaa kaa agar tere tan ko raas nahii.n
kahaa.N se laa_uu.N vo jho.nkaa jo mere paas nahii.n

pighal chukaa huu.N tamaazat me.n aafataab kii mai.n
meraa vujuud bhii ab mere aas-paas nahii.n

[tamaazat = heat; aafataab = Sun; vujuud = existence]

mere nasiib me.n kab thii barahanagii apanii
milii vo mujh ko tamannaa ki be-libaas nahii.n

[barahanagii = nakedness; be-libaas = undressed]

kidhar se utare kahaa.N aa ke tujh se mil jaaye
abhii nadii ke chalan se tuu ruu_shanaas nahii.n

[ruu_shanaas = acquainted]

khulaa pa.Daa hai samandar kitaab kii suurat
vahii pa.Dhe ise aakar jo naa_shanaas nahii.n

[naa_shanaas = unacquainted]

lahuu ke saath ga_ii tan-badan kii sab chahakaar
chubhan sabaa me.n nahii.n hai kalii me.n baas nahii.n

[sabaa = wind; baas = smell (fragrance)]

din Dhal chukaa thaa aur parindaa safar me.n thaa
saaraa lahuu badan kaa ravaa.N Khisht-o-par me.n thaa

had-e-ufaq pe shaam thii Kheme me.n muntazar
aa.Nsuu kaa ik pahaa.D saa haa_il nazar me.n thaa

jaate kahaa.N ki raat kii baahe.n thii.n mushta_iil
chhupate kahaa.N ki saaraa jahaa.N apane ghar me.n thaa

lo vo bhii narm ret ke Tiile me.n Dhal gayaa
kal tak jo ek koh-e-giraa.N rah_guzar me.n thaa

utaraa thaa vahashii chi.Diyo.n kaa lashkar zamiin par
phir ik bhii narm paat na saare shahar me.n thaa

paagal sii ik sadaa kisii uja.De makaa.n me.n thii
Khi.Dakii me.n ik chiraaG bharii dopahar me.n thaa

us kaa badan thaa Khuun kii hiddat se sholaa_fish
suuraj kaa ik gulaab saa tisht-e-sahar me.n thaa

dhuup ke saath gayaa saath nibhaane vaalaa
ab kahaa.N aayegaa vo lauT ke aane vaalaa

ret par chho.D gayaa naqsh hazaaro.n apane
kisii paagal kii tarah naqsh miTaane vaalaa

sabz shaaKhe.n kabhii aise to nahii.n chiiKhatii hai.n
kaun aayaa hai parindo.n ko Daraane vaalaa

[sabz = green; shaaKh = branch; parindaa = bird]

aariz-e-shaam kii surKhii ne kiyaa faash use
pardaa-e-abr me.n thaa aag lagaane vaalaa

[aariz-e-shaam = evening’s cheeks; surKhii = redness]
[faash = expose; pardaa-e-abr = curtain of clouds]

safar-e-shab kaa taqaazaa hai mere saath raho
dasht pur_haul hai tuufaan hai aane vaalaa

[safar-e-shab = night time travel; taqaazaa = demand]
[dasht = wilderness; pur_haul = terrifying]

mujh ko dar_pardaa sunaataa rahaa qissaa apanaa
agale vaqto.n kii hikaayaat sunaane vaalaa

[dar_pardaa = hidden; hikaayaat = stories/tales]

shabanamii ghaas ghane phuul larazatii kirane.n
kaun aayaa hai Khazaano.n ko luTaane vaalaa

[shabanamii = dew-drenched; Khazaanaa = treasure]

ab to aaraam kare.n sochatii aa.Nkhe.n merii
raat kaa aaKhirii taaraa bhii hai jaane vaalaa