Woh Kya Hua?

Pichhle zamaane mein tha jo majnoon, woh kya hua?
Tha jo vaada-e-nibah-o-josh-e-junoon, woh kya hua?

Hai dushman ke haath gar khanjar, toh kya hua?
Tha jo in ragon mein daudtaa khoon, woh kya hua?

Tha ik pari-chehra qaatil, jis par main mara karta tha
Bin us ke kaise jiyoon – woh kya hua?

Hazaaron umeedein lekar gaya tha dar pe unke
Hashr-e-dil-e-naadaan lekin kya kahoon, woh kya hua?

Yun toh gham-e-zindagi se tanha hi nipat lun, lekin
Woh jo kahta tha, main saath hoon, woh kya hua?

Zamaane waale toh Sifar, aksar hi suna karte hain
Qissa apni deewaangi ka main bhi toh sunoon, woh kya hua?

Waqt Ki Chaal

Dhal jaayega yeh roop
Udh jaayega yeh rang
Milen hain log kayee magar
Koi na jaayega sangh

Achhaa Hai

Poochhe koi hum se ke maqsad-e-zindagi kya hai
To itna hi kahenge, ke sawaal achhaa hai

Aage kya khel dikhayegi yeh umr kya jaaniye
Haal ka to yeh hai, ke filhaal achhaa hai

Woh gar hue bhi ru-ba-ru, toh raqib ko liye hue
Kaise kahoon shab-e-hijr se, roz-e-wisaal achhaa hai

Kyonkar ho phir chaah Sifar mehfil-e-jannat ki
Kahte hain husn-e-hoor se, unka jamaal achhaa hai

The King’s Loan

And when one day the King comes back
To reclaim his loan
What does it mean:
What you have achieved, what you own?

Ho Jaaye

Shaayad yoon hi shab-e-hijr ki guzar ho jaaye,
Shama-e-dil ke jalte-jalte sahar ho jaaye.

Kya gham jo jeete-jee ham pe unki nigah na padhi,
Kya kam ke meri khaak par inaayat ki nazar ho jaaye.

Naale to mere kabhi anjaam ko na pahunche,
Dekhun kahin chuppi-e-mawt ka asar ho jaaye.

Bazm mein meri kisi shab, woh khud-ba-khud chale aayen,
Ho na sakega yeh ejaaz, magar ho jaaye!

Too Near, Too Far

One we could not become,
Strangers we could not remain.
If one or the other had been,
Why would there be this pain?

Waiting in tremulous hope,
Hoping in vain:
For the lover, is that
All that will remain?

Chale Gaye

Ab na qulqul-e-mai rahi, na hi charaagh mein lau rahi
Raha ab to halqa-e-gham raha, sab hareef-o-yaar chale gaye

Woh jo karte the humse waada, ke na bichhdenge kabhi,
Na jaane kya gila liye, falak ke paar chale gaye

Suna tha kal bazaar mein, ke unki bazm mein shab-e-yaar hai
Magar ye kya, ke bin bulaaye hum, udhar ko yaar chale gaye

Hue jo chithhde junoon-e-ishq mein, woh hi hamaari shaan the
Ab kya kahen Sifar, kis tarah, woh bhi taar-taar chale gaye

Musaafir

Kahin door se aaya hoon,
Badhi door abhi jaana hai,
Yeh mehfil-e-insaan to
Do din ka thikana hai

When Night Falls

When night falls,
Where do you go?
When the Mother calls,
What do you hear?
When all is done,
What do you fear?

It is better, then,
To give up all
And embrace the One!

The Unheard Flow

Time does not wear anklets on her feet;
Silent she comes, silent goes,
Like a thief, on her toes:
Never, ever missing a beat.

Aao Laut Chalen

Haan woh shab-e-wisaal-e-yaar behad haseen thi
Haan woh mahfil-e-jaam-o-subu bahut kareen thi
Magar yun na tha ke haal-e-duniya se ham begaane the
Fikr-e-rukh-e-sahar bhi hamen, yakeen, thi

Dekhte hi dekhte kahaan se kahaan aa gaya ye watan
Khaayee theen laakhon kasmen, kiye the hazaaron jatan
Phir bhi chaman ka ye ujda-sa haal kaisa?
Har maathe pe shikan, har dil mein malaal kaisa?

Bhule to nahin abhi unko, jo sar pe kafan baandhe phira karte the
Jeete the khulkar tah-e-nok-e-sanaan, aur hans kar mara karte the
Phir hamne ghut-ghut ke jeena kahaan se seekha?
Jaam-e-talkh-e-khudgarzi peena kahaan se seekha?

Aao, laut chalen udhar ko jahaan sarfarosh deewaanon ka basera tha
Siyah aasmaan ki aad mein ek rawshan savera tha
Na tha watan ka saudagar koi, na chain-o-aman ka lutera tha

Aao, laut chalen udhar ko
Aao, laut chalen

Barsaat Ki Ek Raat

raat bhar chashm-e-mahtaab se lahu barsa
sahar ki aankh khuli, toh falak ka chahra surkh tha

Bridge of Love

Between what we mean and what we say, what a gulf!
Between how we feel and how we live, what a distance!
Only love can bridge the yawning gap: but, that is so rare!

Death of Hope

Seems like some desire of the heart
Died last night:
Why else did I wake up weeping,
At dawn’s first light?

The Wheel

Another year slips by
Another turn of the wheel
And this strangeness you feel
Neither a low, nor a high
Just an endless emptying out
A limitless filling up:
Why?

Naahaq Ilzaam

kaun kahta hai ke maine pee hai?
yeh jo surkhi aankhon mein hai, bas teri masti hai

gar tera naam na judta, toh mera afsaana kya tha?
sach toh yeh hai, ke tujhse meri hasti hai

jidhar dekhoon, jidhar jaaoon, tu hi tu nazar aata hai
har shay mein, har zarre mein, teri hi ruh basti hai

zindagi aur mawt ka khel, maana zameen-aasmaan se puraana hai
magar yeh kya, sifar, ke in dinon zindagi se mawt sasti hai?

Aaeena

tumhe hanstaa dekh kar, humein apna zamaana yaad aaya
woh ro-ro ke hansnaa, aur hans-hans ke rona yaad aaya

yeh haqeeqat hai ke hum aksar mila karte the
phir kyon tera laakhon mein ek martaba bahaana yaad aaya?

A Blessing

The warmth of the sun
The moonlight
The sweetness of fruit
The fragrance of flowers
The purifying air of the mountains
The nourishment of the rivers
The watchful caring of the stars
The music of the earth
The rhythm of the seas
The touch of loving hands
The clarity of babies
The peace of sages
The courage of believers
The strength of truth:

May all these bless you, your family and your home.
Wish you get all your heart desires.

In Reply To Rumi

The purpose of desire
is to test your humility and love.

A dream is a memory of the future.

A song is the face of the Truth.

We know the depth of silence in another human
by listening to his eyes.

The heart is the fragrance of the Mother.

To be a true human is to feel all the pain of the world
and yet be able to smile.

The source of the universe is the darkness.

And all these individual awarenesses connect to that
as the rivers connect to the ocean.

Kisi Ki

kahaan hai kisi ko fiqr kisi ki?
kiske dam pe hai guzar kisi ki?

shaayad ham hi mein koi baat nahin,
jo nahin padti ham pe nazar kisi ki

kabhi ham-tum bhi aashna hua karte the,
lag gayee kya hamein nazar kisi ki?

ham bhi munh mein zubaan rakhte hain,
ho tabiyat agar udhar kisi ki

ishq mein kai baar chot khayi hai,
phir bhi chhodi na rahguzar kisi ki

ham khud apni khabar le nahin paate,
ho kaise hamein khabar kisi ki?

apne waqt ka toh kuchh kah nahin sakte,
lag jaaye tumko lekin umar kisi ki

bhookon marna kubul hai hamko
nahin manzoor bheek magar kisi ki

apna daaman kaunsa bedaag hai?
phir buraayi kyon Sifar, kisi ki?

Shabdon Ka Saudagar

Ghazalon, geeton, naghmon ka saudagar hoon main
Kabhi soya hua sa, Sifar, kabhi ujaagar hoon main

Kuchh nazmein hain mere paas, dard mein lipti hui
Kucch aadhi-adhoori si hain, aur hain kuchh nipti hui
Sahmi hui si hain kuchh, maano mehbooba aashiq se ho rubaru
Aur kuchh hain mahekti hui, goya ke zulf-e-yaar ki ho khushboo

Sheyr hain kayee aise, jinka har harf maanind-e-lahu aankhon se tapka hai
Aur kuchh aise bhi hain, ke jaise koi angaara-e-khayaal falak ki ore lapka hai
Hain kuchh itne siyah, ke jaise bin-mahtab ki siyah-tareen raat
Aur kuchh itne raushan, ke maano mehr-e-neemroz ki ho baat

Kuchh ghazalon mein hai woh haya, ke jaise nazren jhukaane ki ho aadat
Aur kuchh rakhti hain dil par woh asar, ke jaise ho shor-e-shahaadat
Kuchh mein woh siyah-masti hai, ke jaise saqi ne tamaam maikhana pilaaya ho
Aur kuchh mein hai aisa khauf, ke maanon waqt-e-qayaamat aaya ho

Ghazalon, geeton, naghmon ka saudagar hoon main
Kabhi soya hua sa, Sifar, kabhi ujaagar hoon main

You, Forever and Everywhere

You, in the smoke-choked back alleys of my youth:
Obscured by the haze, hidden truth.

You, on chemical evenings, on the street:
Playing with the beggar children, naked feet.

You, in her eyes, as I, with fire in my loins,
Bargain for my manhood with a fistful of coins.

You, in mute Nature’s agonizing shame,
As she falls prey to Man’s incestuous game.

You, in the staccato of guns in the night,
Incandescent with terror in life’s last light.

You, forever
You, everywhere
You, forever and everywhere.

A New Year's Wish

May your dreams be fulfilled.
But not all of them:
so that you still have something to look forward to.

May your efforts be rewarded.
But not all of them:
so that you still have something to strive for.

May your worries be removed.
But not all of them:
so that you remain alive to the troubles of others.

May your weaknesses be overcome.
But not all of them:
so that you still have something to be humble about.

May your fears be conquered.
But not all of them:
so that you still have something to laugh at.

Memories

Who goes there?
No one, no one at all.
Just the echoes of pleasures past
Tip-toeing down the hall.

My Silly Heart, When Will You Learn?

My silly heart, when will you learn?
You cannot hold these sweet lips that burn,
You cannot keep this maddening scent,
That lingers long after the day is spent.
My silly heart, when will you learn?

These hairs that graze her cheeks and raze my soul,
These fingers that lock in mine and make me whole,
That, for which, my empty heart, you yearn,
You cannot keep, when will you learn?

The unreserved passion that sets her body trembling,
The undeserved warmth that seeps through her dissembling,
These and the hundred other gifts you did not earn,
You cannot keep, my greedy heart, when will you learn?

This look of longing in her eyes, you cannot retain,
This flush of anger on her face, you cannot detain,
You cannot stay the manic wheel in its timeless turn,
Nor this moment of rapture capture, when will you learn?

My silly heart, when will you learn?

The Ocean Of Love

A solitary drop of moonlight fell upon the river –
Already, unseen, rumbling.

The river could hide its joy no longer,
And let all the world see its love.

Downwards from the heights it sped,
Leaping, tumbling.

Until, drained of its passion,
It came quietly to rest amongst its sisters –
The countless rivers that fill up
The Ocean of Love.

Phir Ek Baar

kaatne ko daudte hain khaamosh saaye, phir ek baar
aaj waada kar ke bhi woh nahin aaye, phir ek baar

sahar ki surkhi mein nikle the apni hi talaash mein
shaam hui, khaali haath laut aaye, phir ek baar

yoon khafa hua yaar ke jaise kabhi aashna na tha
kis tarah ab koi usey manaaye, phir ek baar

thodi hi door chal kar kyon baith gaye watan ke sipaahi?
aawaaz koi toh ho jo inhe uthaaye, phir ek baar

the jitne bhi khuda, sab dafn ho chuke
ab koi naya masiha aaye, phir ek baar

ab bhi dil-e-choor mein kayee armaan baaqi hain
koi aa kar isey kuchal jaaye, phir ek baar

dekhna tum bhi, kya ghazab dhaate hain ham, sifar
zindagi maut se hamein udhaar le aaye, phir ek baar

Hum Bhi Hain, Tum Bhi Ho

yeh kis baat ko lekar pareshaan hum bhi hain, tum bhi ho?
kuchh to maajra hai ke hairaan hum bhi hain, tum bhi ho

hazaaron kasmein khaayeen theen shab-e-ibteda-e-ishq mein
magar har waade se ab anjaan hum bhi hain, tum bhi ho

jo mita de har gham aur bhula de har gila
us chashm-e-qaatil ke kadardaan hum bhi hain, tum bhi ho

shaan-o-shaukat-o-deen-o-imaan sab khote sikke hain
haq toh bas yeh hai ke insaan hum bhi hain, tum bhi ho

hai zindagi par mawt ki mohar lagi hui
sair-e-duniya mein do roz ke mehmaan hum bhi hain, tum bhi ho

kab nahin tha Sifar, ishq par zulm zamaane ka?
phir kya hairat ke tah-e-nok-e-sanaan hum bhi hain, tum bhi ho?

Harf-e-Khaamoshi

shaayar bhi main hoon, ashaar bhi main
nagma bhi main hoon aur nagma-gaar bhi main

gul bhi main hoon, khaar bhi main
nadi bhi main hoon aur uski dhaar bhi main

fateh bhi main hoon, haar bhi main
jaan bhi main hoon aur jaan-nisaar bhi main

saqi bhi main hoon, pyaala-o-jaam bhi main
qaasid bhi main hoon aur paigaam bhi main

subah bhi main hoon, shaam bhi main
ibteda bhi main hoon aur anjaam bhi main

woh bhi main hoon, tum bhi main
haazir bhi main hoon aur gum bhi main

siyah raat bhi main hoon, noor bhi main
banda bhi main hoon aur huzoor bhi main

haqeeqat bhi main hoon, khwaab bhi main
husn-e-butaan bhi main hoon aur naqab bhi main

kare kaise koi mujhko mujhse juda?
sab kuchh main hi hoon aur kuchh nahin bhi main

Waiting

Just because the breeze
Does not know when it will come,
Does not mean that the trees
Will not sway when it does come.

The Ballad of a Lost Poet

wonder where i am
wonder what i am doing here
wonder whom i sing to

my voice has gone hoarse
my pen has dried
my tears have moistened my cheeks
on my lips my laughter has died

no one comes down this dark alley
no one listens, no one speaks
no one loves, or - oh the cruel truth - even hates
the loneliness is shattering
the indifference, battering
the silence is deeper than the deepest valley

thank you, dear people
and god bless

now, excuse me
while i peddle my pain elsewhere
while i seek other victims for my humour
while i throw my worthless words in another direction

excuse me
because, alas! poetry seeks an echo.

A Dream

late evening, yesterday, suddenly
while walking the open road
a long-separated dream bumped into me


he smiled and embraced me
then asked:
"how are you?
where were you all these days?
tell me of all your means and ways
for so many years without me."


i kept staring at his face
kept peering into my past -
perhaps i could find a trace
of where i had seen him last


"he smiled again
this time with moist eyes
and said:
"no, you did not recognise me
you have forgotten, you do not recall
perhaps you have become lost
in the frantic, frenetic pace of it all."


truth: i had forgotten
but, there was some remembrance, too
like the fragments of an old song
that continue to haunt you


"it is all right, it does not matter
i have grown accustomed to it


"people often forget,
in just this way
in the hurly-burly of survival
they flow away
slaughter all their dreams
and yet alive themselves stay."


i was ashamed;
my face burned red
was i alive?
or was me dead?


"he placed his hand on my shoulder
very lightly, very gentlly
and said:
so what if you have forgotten me?
i have not forsaken you


"i still remember everything:
those promises, those pledges,
those pure principles,
those intentions with no rough edges


"come, take my hand once again
come, walk with me once again


"let us walk together
towards the brilliant dawn that does hide
just beyond the horizon's shores
come, let us, you and i, leave aside
this pointless craving, these mindless chores


"come, my friend
trust in your dream
what did you bring into this world?
for fear of losing which
so timid you seem?


"come, take my hand once more
come, walk with me once more."

Bewajood Aashaar Ki Tarah

tarasta hoon uski deed ko main baada-khwaar ki tarah
hai rukh pe lekin zulf-e-siyah pahredaar ki tarah

saqi na pher le kahin apni nazr-e-karam
bahno do yaaron mai ko aaj chashm-e-zaar ki tarah

mahki si hai naseem-e-sahar jaise khushboo-e-dildaar
hai surkhi-e-aasmaan bhi ghaazaa-e-rukhsaar ki tarah

jaaga tha shab-e-hijr bhar chaadar-e-mayoosi odhe hue
subah hui toh gulshan bhi tha ek ujde dayaar ki tarah

jaani hui hai rahguzar, pehchaane hue se log hain
phir kyon hai khauf yahaan basa hua, soo-e-daar ki tarah?

jaata zaroor masjid ko main, maano yaqeen mera Sifar
milta agar wahaan bhi suroor koo-e-yaar ki tarah

Main Bhi Tha

kabhi us mehfil-e-rang-o-bu mein main bhi tha
kabhi us pari-chehra se ru-ba-ru main bhi tha

ab na koi chaah hai, na umeed, na justaju hai koi
magar yeh sach hai ke pur-aarzoo kabhi main bhi tha

kya gila jo kal shab raqib bazm-e-yaar ko gaya?
suna hai unki guftagu mein kahin main bhi tha

ek muddat se weeraaniyon mein guzar karta hoon
kabhi duniya ki haa-o-hoo mein main bhi tha

ab toh bas raakh ka ek dher sa dikhai deta hai, Sifar
liye kabhi jaan-o-armaan-o-saans-o-lahu main bhi tha

Ek Khwaab

Kal shab, yun hi, raah chalte
Ek bichhda hua khwaab mujh se takra gaya

Muskuraa kar gale mila woh
Aur poochhaa us ne:
“Kaise ho?
Kahaan the mere yaar itne din?
Bataao, kaisi kati barson mere bin?”

Main uska chehra taakta raha
Beete hue kal mein jhaankta raha
Ke kahin koi suraag mil jaaye

Woh phir muskuraaya,
Is baar nam aankhon se,
Aur bola:
“Nahin, nahin pehchaane mujhe
Sab kuchh bhool gaye ho tum
Ho chuke ho shaayad
Gham-e-rozgaar mein gum."

Sach, kuchh bhool sa gaya tha main
Lekin yaad bhi tha, zara-zara
Kisi puraani nazm ki tarah, adhoora

"Chalo, koi baat nahin
Mujhe iski aadat si hai

Log aksar apne khwaabon ko
Yun hi bhool jaate hain
Tez raftaar-e-zindagi mein
Bahe chale jaate hain
Apne sapnon ko qatl kar
Jiye chale jaate hain.”

Main behad sharminda tha
Kya main mar chuka tha
Ya zinda tha?

Us ne mere kandhe par haath rakha
Bahut halka, bahut pyaar se
Aur bola:
“Tum mujhe bhool gaye to kya?
Main to tumhe nahin bhoola
Ab tak hain yaad mujhe
Woh kasmein, woh waade
Woh be-daag usool, woh paak iraade

"Aao, phir thaam lo haath mera
Ek baar phir kar lo saath mera
Aao, mil kar chalen raushan sahar ki ore
Aao, chhod chalen peechhe
Yeh jadd-o-jahad, yeh shor

"Aao mere yaar
Apne khwaab par aitbaar karo
Kya laaye the tum yahaan?
Kis cheez ke khone se daro?
Aao, mere saath chalo.”