हंगाम-ए-फ़िराक कहते हैं वोह सब्र कीजिये
उम्र बुहत थोड़ी है, तैयार कब्र कीजिये
सिफ़र
March 28, 2013
आज होली का त्यौहार है, आओ खेलें रंग
आज होली का त्यौहार है, आओ खेलें रंग
लाओ रंग हल्का नीला, बेदर्द आसमानों का
ज़ीस्त की कड़ी धुप में सूखे हुए अरमानों का
आज होली का त्यौहार है, आओ खेलें रंग
उछालो रंग सुर्ख, जैसे बहता हो मासूम लहू
उसका जो आयी थी घर, बिन दहेज़ लिए बहु
आज होली का त्यौहार है, आओ खेलें रंग
फेंको रंग चांदी सिक्कों का, जूँ मुफलिस को भीक
छोडो फुवारें सोने की, जो लालच की सीख
आज होली का त्यौहार है, आओ खेलें रंग
लगाओ रंग हर तन पर हरा, जैसे ताज़ा नासूर
चढाओ चेहरों पर रंग बैंगनी, जैसे दौलत मग़रूर
लाओ बुझदिली का पीला, लाओ खौफ का ज़र्द
शब्-इ-हिज्र की सियाही लाओ, छेड़ो आहें सर्द
आज होली का त्यौहार है, आओ खेलें रंग
आज होली का त्यौहार है, लाओ दर्द के सारे रंग
सिफ़र
August 14, 2012
आ पहुंचे
देख तेरी बंदगी में हम
किस मकाम आ पहुंचे
है जहां न इब्तेदा न अंजाम आ पहुंचे
है जहां न इब्तेदा न अंजाम आ पहुंचे
साकी तू मय की धार रखियो
कुछ तेज़-तेज़
यूँ न हो मस्ती से पेहले ही इमाम आ पहुंचे
यूँ न हो मस्ती से पेहले ही इमाम आ पहुंचे
मत पूछो हमसे यारों इश्क
पर रोज़गार के सितम
अभी गले मिले भी न थे के ढेरों काम आ पहुंचे
अभी गले मिले भी न थे के ढेरों काम आ पहुंचे
थी खबर कल शब् के वोह
निकले हैं सैर को
सुना इतना और मर्द शेहर के तमाम आ पहुंचे
सुना इतना और मर्द शेहर के तमाम आ पहुंचे
सोता भी हूँ तोह
चश्म-ओ-गोश खोले हुए सिफर
उम्मीद ये के बेवक्त उनका पैगाम आ पहुंचे
उम्मीद ये के बेवक्त उनका पैगाम आ पहुंचे
दिखाई देते हैं
आज कुछ क़यामत के आसार दिखाई देते हैं
वोह फिर बा-गाजा-ए-रुखसार दिखाई देते हैं
सुना तोह था हमने के नाराज़ हैं नासेह
मगर ये क्या के क़त्ल को तैयार दिखाई देते हैं?
उन निगाहों का जादू है या मौसम का तकाज़ा?
हिलते हुए दिल के दर-ओ-दीवार दिखाई देते हैं
मत पूछो यारों हमसे शहर-ए-अमीरान की रस्में
मिलते हैं गले तोह हाथों में हथियार दिखाई देते हैं
हो फकीर-ए-सर-ए-राह या मालिक-ए-तख़्त-ओ-ताज
हमें तोह सिफर सब उसके कर्ज़दार दिखाई देते हैं
August 02, 2012
Appear
Today, the foretold day of doom it does appear
Once again, with rouge on her cheeks she does appear
Yes, I too, had heard that the preachers were displeased
But, what is this that intent on murder they do appear?
Is it those intoxicating glances, or the magic of the Monsoon?
Shaken to the core the heart's walls and door do appear
Oh, do not ask me friends, of the ways of the city of the rich
Even as they embrace, in their hands, weapons do appear
Be it the mendicant on the street, or the owner of throne and crown
To me, Sifar, each one His debtor does appear
Once again, with rouge on her cheeks she does appear
Yes, I too, had heard that the preachers were displeased
But, what is this that intent on murder they do appear?
Is it those intoxicating glances, or the magic of the Monsoon?
Shaken to the core the heart's walls and door do appear
Oh, do not ask me friends, of the ways of the city of the rich
Even as they embrace, in their hands, weapons do appear
Be it the mendicant on the street, or the owner of throne and crown
To me, Sifar, each one His debtor does appear
January 06, 2012
Hear, Hear!
Upon hearing my poem last evening, they did utter “hear, hear!”
But, on the street today, how they did demur – hear, hear!
As descends the wine, tinkling, into the glass
Into this desolate heart-chamber would she descend – hear, hear!
To all appearances, she has no interest in me – and yet
For the evening’s tryst, how she would prepare – hear, hear!
I gave my life once in the ecstasy of love – what of it?
Regret, for fear of scandal how she dies daily – hear, hear!
As blows the breeze, fragrant over the flowerbeds come dawn
So through the garden of my thoughts, she would flow – hear, hear!
Although the lovers of the secret of Life are many, dear Sifar
The face of the Truth so frightens them – hear, hear!
But, on the street today, how they did demur – hear, hear!
As descends the wine, tinkling, into the glass
Into this desolate heart-chamber would she descend – hear, hear!
To all appearances, she has no interest in me – and yet
For the evening’s tryst, how she would prepare – hear, hear!
I gave my life once in the ecstasy of love – what of it?
Regret, for fear of scandal how she dies daily – hear, hear!
As blows the breeze, fragrant over the flowerbeds come dawn
So through the garden of my thoughts, she would flow – hear, hear!
Although the lovers of the secret of Life are many, dear Sifar
The face of the Truth so frightens them – hear, hear!
A Guest Was
Into the cold, dark heart of night descended Dawn's warm dagger
And the sky, in every direction as it was, blood-splattered was
Although a hundred thousand bubbles of sorrow welled up within the heart
Life was escaping through my lips – the reason I silent was
The Sun itself, lord of the skies, uttered not a word
But, on the lips of the breeze and the cheeks of the rose, its story was
What we endured on the path of faith, is evident on the face
Seeing my reflection in the river, I too, astounded was
A few days Sifar resided here, wrote a bit, went on his way
That is the sum and substance of his tale – he just a guest was
And the sky, in every direction as it was, blood-splattered was
Although a hundred thousand bubbles of sorrow welled up within the heart
Life was escaping through my lips – the reason I silent was
The Sun itself, lord of the skies, uttered not a word
But, on the lips of the breeze and the cheeks of the rose, its story was
What we endured on the path of faith, is evident on the face
Seeing my reflection in the river, I too, astounded was
A few days Sifar resided here, wrote a bit, went on his way
That is the sum and substance of his tale – he just a guest was
December 28, 2011
Mehmaan Tha
Sard seena-e-shab mein utra sahar ka garm khanjar/
Awr phir jo har-ja aasmaan tha, so lahu-lohaan tha
Yun toh gham ke sad-hazaar walwale uthte dil mein the/
Jaan jo lab pe aayee thi, ye sabab main bezubaan tha
Aap toh khurshid, baadshah-e-falak ek harf bhi na bola/
Lab-e-naseem-o-ru-e-gul par lekin us ka bayaan tha
Jo beeti raah-e-wafa par, zaahir hai sab chehre pe/
Dekh ke naqsha apna darya mein, main bhi kuchh hairaan tha
Chand roz raha yahaan Sifar, kuchh padha, chal guzra/
Bas itna fasaana hai uska, aakhir ko mehmaan tha
Awr phir jo har-ja aasmaan tha, so lahu-lohaan tha
Yun toh gham ke sad-hazaar walwale uthte dil mein the/
Jaan jo lab pe aayee thi, ye sabab main bezubaan tha
Aap toh khurshid, baadshah-e-falak ek harf bhi na bola/
Lab-e-naseem-o-ru-e-gul par lekin us ka bayaan tha
Jo beeti raah-e-wafa par, zaahir hai sab chehre pe/
Dekh ke naqsha apna darya mein, main bhi kuchh hairaan tha
Chand roz raha yahaan Sifar, kuchh padha, chal guzra/
Bas itna fasaana hai uska, aakhir ko mehmaan tha
Wah-Wah
Sun kar kal shab ghazal meri karte the woh "wah-wah"/
Magar aaj sar-e-raah kya mukarte the woh wah-wah
Utarti hai jaise mai chhanakti hui pyaale mein/
Is weeraan khaana-e-dil mein utarte the woh wah-wah
Kahne ko toh unhe ham mein koi dilchaspi na thi/
Lekin roz-e-mulaakaat yun sanwarte the woh wah-wah
Hamne jo junoon-e-ishq ek baar jaan di so di/
Afsos khauf-e-ruswaai mein roz marte the woh wah-wah
Guzri ho naseem-e-sahar gulistaan se jis tarha/
Yun baagh-e-khayaal se mere guzarte the woh wah-wah
Aise toh raaz-e-haq ke aashiq awr bhi the Sifar/
Magar chaihre se haqeeqat ke darte the woh wah-wah
Magar aaj sar-e-raah kya mukarte the woh wah-wah
Utarti hai jaise mai chhanakti hui pyaale mein/
Is weeraan khaana-e-dil mein utarte the woh wah-wah
Kahne ko toh unhe ham mein koi dilchaspi na thi/
Lekin roz-e-mulaakaat yun sanwarte the woh wah-wah
Hamne jo junoon-e-ishq ek baar jaan di so di/
Afsos khauf-e-ruswaai mein roz marte the woh wah-wah
Guzri ho naseem-e-sahar gulistaan se jis tarha/
Yun baagh-e-khayaal se mere guzarte the woh wah-wah
Aise toh raaz-e-haq ke aashiq awr bhi the Sifar/
Magar chaihre se haqeeqat ke darte the woh wah-wah
November 06, 2011
The Past and The Future
The tired answers
To well-worn questions
Some misdirected efforts
A few forgotten equations
Those masks on faces
Those veils on intentions
And, somewhere far away
As though in another universe
The smoke that rises
From the smouldering embers
Of the corpses of uprooted dreams
Wrings drops of moisture
From these blood-shot eyes
So that people think
I am once again immersed
In the pain of the past
But, in this half-extinguished heart
A self-effacing dream still hides
The hope that she would sweep veil-less
Into this chamber of loneliness still abides
Covered by clouds, perhaps
But, in the sky a glorious moon still resides
To well-worn questions
Some misdirected efforts
A few forgotten equations
Those masks on faces
Those veils on intentions
And, somewhere far away
As though in another universe
The smoke that rises
From the smouldering embers
Of the corpses of uprooted dreams
Wrings drops of moisture
From these blood-shot eyes
So that people think
I am once again immersed
In the pain of the past
But, in this half-extinguished heart
A self-effacing dream still hides
The hope that she would sweep veil-less
Into this chamber of loneliness still abides
Covered by clouds, perhaps
But, in the sky a glorious moon still resides
The Heart Must Have Ached
When blew the cold wind of the evening of separation, the heart must have ached
When blossomed the morning in the chamber of loneliness, the heart must have ached
Words of falsehood sound sweet behind closed doors alone
When someone denied her love in the square, the heart must have ached
I, too was in your presence, although ever ignored
But, when that empty space let out a sigh, the heart must have ached
Come, let us meet again as if we were never intimate
Although, when memories of that closeness prevailed, the heart must have ached
Fame went, riches went – they were not your treasure
But, the day honour was sold Sifar, the heart must have ached
When blossomed the morning in the chamber of loneliness, the heart must have ached
Words of falsehood sound sweet behind closed doors alone
When someone denied her love in the square, the heart must have ached
I, too was in your presence, although ever ignored
But, when that empty space let out a sigh, the heart must have ached
Come, let us meet again as if we were never intimate
Although, when memories of that closeness prevailed, the heart must have ached
Fame went, riches went – they were not your treasure
But, the day honour was sold Sifar, the heart must have ached
Had Been
A dusty wind had raged, a storm, too had been
A gaze had lifted, a death there had been
Why, walking the street, should one curse me?
Am I the only idiot that in this world has been?
And how do i tell you now, the magic of that blossoming beauty?
Enough to say that I, young just that day had been
Yesterday, in the river, I caught a glimpse of myself
As though, in that timeless flow, immersed I, too had been
My funeral procession Sifar, moved with such a jaunt
We hear the slayer herself despondent has been
A gaze had lifted, a death there had been
Why, walking the street, should one curse me?
Am I the only idiot that in this world has been?
And how do i tell you now, the magic of that blossoming beauty?
Enough to say that I, young just that day had been
Yesterday, in the river, I caught a glimpse of myself
As though, in that timeless flow, immersed I, too had been
My funeral procession Sifar, moved with such a jaunt
We hear the slayer herself despondent has been
Maazi-o-farda
Thake hue sawaalon
Ke uktaae hue jawaab
Kuchh bhatke hue iraade
Chand bhoole hue hisaab
Woh chaihron ke pairaahan
Woh dilon par dhake nakaab
Awr kahin door
Jaise kisi awr duniya mein
Ujde hue khwaabon
Ki sulagti laashon
Se uthta hua dhooaan
Jab in surkh aankhon se
Nami nichod jaata hai
Toh log sochte hain
Ke main phir gham-e-maazi
Mein dooba hoon
Magar is dil-e-bismil mein
Ek saihma hua sa khwaab ab bhi hai
Ye umeed ke woh aa jaaye
Is hujra-e-tanhai mein be-hijaab ab bhi hai
Abr se dhaka hi sahi
Falak mein maihtaab ab bhi hai
Ke uktaae hue jawaab
Kuchh bhatke hue iraade
Chand bhoole hue hisaab
Woh chaihron ke pairaahan
Woh dilon par dhake nakaab
Awr kahin door
Jaise kisi awr duniya mein
Ujde hue khwaabon
Ki sulagti laashon
Se uthta hua dhooaan
Jab in surkh aankhon se
Nami nichod jaata hai
Toh log sochte hain
Ke main phir gham-e-maazi
Mein dooba hoon
Magar is dil-e-bismil mein
Ek saihma hua sa khwaab ab bhi hai
Ye umeed ke woh aa jaaye
Is hujra-e-tanhai mein be-hijaab ab bhi hai
Abr se dhaka hi sahi
Falak mein maihtaab ab bhi hai
Dil Toh Dukha Hoga
Chali jab sard hawa-e-shab-e-hijr, dil toh dukha hoga
Maihki jab sahar hujra-e-tanhaai mein, dil toh dukha hoga
Harf-e-jhoot toh band kamron hi mein achhe lagte hain
Kiya jab kisi ne sar-e-baazaar inkaar-e-ishq, dil toh dukha hoga
Ham bhi bhi the teri bazm mein, go nazar-andaaz
Aah jab nikli us khaali jagah se, dil toh dukha hoga
Chalo, phir yun milein jaise ham kabhi aashna na the
Magar jab aayee hogi yaad us aashnaai ki, dil toh dukha hoga
Shauhrat gayi, daulat gayi, kaunsi apni sarmaaya thi?
Bika tha magar Sifar jis roz imaan, dil toh dukha hoga
Maihki jab sahar hujra-e-tanhaai mein, dil toh dukha hoga
Harf-e-jhoot toh band kamron hi mein achhe lagte hain
Kiya jab kisi ne sar-e-baazaar inkaar-e-ishq, dil toh dukha hoga
Ham bhi bhi the teri bazm mein, go nazar-andaaz
Aah jab nikli us khaali jagah se, dil toh dukha hoga
Chalo, phir yun milein jaise ham kabhi aashna na the
Magar jab aayee hogi yaad us aashnaai ki, dil toh dukha hoga
Shauhrat gayi, daulat gayi, kaunsi apni sarmaaya thi?
Bika tha magar Sifar jis roz imaan, dil toh dukha hoga
Hua Tha
Aandhi si chali thi, toofaan sa hua tha
Ek nazar uthi si thi, qatl-e-jaan sa hua tha
Kyon raah chalte koi, kare apni buraayi?
Kya is duniya mein main hi, naadaan sa hua tha?
Ab kya kahein tumse, us nau-shabaab ke jalwe
Bas aise ke main us roz hi, jawaan sa hua tha
Kal darya ki maujon mein, kuchh apni si jhalak thi
Us raftaar-e-haq mein main bhi, qurbaan sa hua tha
Yun jhoom ke nikla Sifar, kuchh apna janaaza
Sunte hain ke khud qaatil bhi, pareshaan sa hua tha
Ek nazar uthi si thi, qatl-e-jaan sa hua tha
Kyon raah chalte koi, kare apni buraayi?
Kya is duniya mein main hi, naadaan sa hua tha?
Ab kya kahein tumse, us nau-shabaab ke jalwe
Bas aise ke main us roz hi, jawaan sa hua tha
Kal darya ki maujon mein, kuchh apni si jhalak thi
Us raftaar-e-haq mein main bhi, qurbaan sa hua tha
Yun jhoom ke nikla Sifar, kuchh apna janaaza
Sunte hain ke khud qaatil bhi, pareshaan sa hua tha
October 05, 2011
Was Not
Although the merciful gaze never rested upon me
But Sifar, this threat to life it ever was not
Yes, the nation was enslaved, but there was a freedom of thought
For this heavy chain around the hearts then, there was not
Why did I lose all sense and dignity, how could I say now?
Just one arrow of her glance, and mind or heart there was not
When nothing else was, just Her breath resonated
You and I then were not; this narrowness of sky too, was not
If I were to speak Sifar, much there is that I could say
Alas, my own tale, worthy of speech was not!
But Sifar, this threat to life it ever was not
Yes, the nation was enslaved, but there was a freedom of thought
For this heavy chain around the hearts then, there was not
Why did I lose all sense and dignity, how could I say now?
Just one arrow of her glance, and mind or heart there was not
When nothing else was, just Her breath resonated
You and I then were not; this narrowness of sky too, was not
If I were to speak Sifar, much there is that I could say
Alas, my own tale, worthy of speech was not!
Na Thi
Yun toh nazr-e-karam ham par kabhi mehrbaan na thi
Magar Sifar, aisi bhi kabhi khatra-e-jaan na thi
Go aazaad na tha desh, ek bulandi-e-khayaal thi
Dilon par jo yeh ab si zanjeer-e-giraan na thi
Khoya kyon tamkeen-o-hosh, yeh kaise kahein ab ham
Bas ik teer-e-nigaah chali, phir aql-o-jaan na thi
Kuchh awr jab na tha, bas uski saans goonjti thi
Ham awr tum tab na the, yeh tangi-e-aasmaan na thi
Kahne ko toh ham bauhat kuchh kah jaate, ae Sifar
Afsos apni daastaan kaabil-e-bayaan na thi
Magar Sifar, aisi bhi kabhi khatra-e-jaan na thi
Go aazaad na tha desh, ek bulandi-e-khayaal thi
Dilon par jo yeh ab si zanjeer-e-giraan na thi
Khoya kyon tamkeen-o-hosh, yeh kaise kahein ab ham
Bas ik teer-e-nigaah chali, phir aql-o-jaan na thi
Kuchh awr jab na tha, bas uski saans goonjti thi
Ham awr tum tab na the, yeh tangi-e-aasmaan na thi
Kahne ko toh ham bauhat kuchh kah jaate, ae Sifar
Afsos apni daastaan kaabil-e-bayaan na thi
August 31, 2011
Sab Siyah Hai
Sab siyah hai
Andar awr har su
Phir ye rawshni kya?
Jo yak-ba-yak
Aankhon ko andhiya jaati hai
Band-o-ruki-o-sadi hui
Ruh ki bu
Naak mein dam
Magar ye door kahin
Se aati hui khushboo si kya?
Jo khule dareechon se ghus kar
Dil-o-dimaagh par chhaa jaati hai
Har usool bik chuka
Har jhoot dauhraaya ja chuka
Phir ye aaeena kya?
Jo har jhoot se pare hai
Ye sargarm daud siyahi ki taraf
Hosh-o-hawaas ghadi-bhar ke mehmaan
Phir ye bharosa kaisa?
Hamesha mein
Kuchh aisi hai ma ka aangan
Go tum bhool chuke ho
Apne ghar ko
Usney tumhein nahin chhoda
Usney tumhein nahin chhoda
Andar awr har su
Phir ye rawshni kya?
Jo yak-ba-yak
Aankhon ko andhiya jaati hai
Band-o-ruki-o-sadi hui
Ruh ki bu
Naak mein dam
Magar ye door kahin
Se aati hui khushboo si kya?
Jo khule dareechon se ghus kar
Dil-o-dimaagh par chhaa jaati hai
Har usool bik chuka
Har jhoot dauhraaya ja chuka
Phir ye aaeena kya?
Jo har jhoot se pare hai
Ye sargarm daud siyahi ki taraf
Hosh-o-hawaas ghadi-bhar ke mehmaan
Phir ye bharosa kaisa?
Hamesha mein
Kuchh aisi hai ma ka aangan
Go tum bhool chuke ho
Apne ghar ko
Usney tumhein nahin chhoda
Usney tumhein nahin chhoda
August 29, 2011
Tik-tik
Dil-o-dimaagh maazi mein dooba hua
Kya kuchh ho sakta tha
Log anjaane, raahen andekhi
Awr raat yun tapakti hai
Jaise begunaahon ka lahu
Kaaleen ke chithdon par
Iqbal-e-jurm likh jaaye
Falak bhi koi jawaab nahin rakhta
Magar woh toh ek musaafir hai
Hamesha awr hamesha ke beech
Badalti hawa
Koi raasta nahin dikhaati
Thake hue khushk zard patte girte hain
Gul toh kabke gum hue
Is beraham dhaar ko qurbaan
Mawt awr zindagi ki
Awr oonch se neech ki
Pahaad chuppi liye hue hai
Josh-o-harkat uski fitrat nahin
Muntazir hai us sailaab ka
Jo usey choor kar
Phir zindagi de jaayega
Awr insaan baukhlaaya hua
Kuchh izteraab sa
Apni bekaari-o-behisi se anjaan
Raaz-e-haq ki talaash mein
Jab ke woh jaa-ba-jaa hain maujood
Khush agarche be-wajood
Kya kuchh ho sakta tha
Log anjaane, raahen andekhi
Awr raat yun tapakti hai
Jaise begunaahon ka lahu
Kaaleen ke chithdon par
Iqbal-e-jurm likh jaaye
Falak bhi koi jawaab nahin rakhta
Magar woh toh ek musaafir hai
Hamesha awr hamesha ke beech
Badalti hawa
Koi raasta nahin dikhaati
Thake hue khushk zard patte girte hain
Gul toh kabke gum hue
Is beraham dhaar ko qurbaan
Mawt awr zindagi ki
Awr oonch se neech ki
Pahaad chuppi liye hue hai
Josh-o-harkat uski fitrat nahin
Muntazir hai us sailaab ka
Jo usey choor kar
Phir zindagi de jaayega
Awr insaan baukhlaaya hua
Kuchh izteraab sa
Apni bekaari-o-behisi se anjaan
Raaz-e-haq ki talaash mein
Jab ke woh jaa-ba-jaa hain maujood
Khush agarche be-wajood
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)