Aagahi

Akhtar Ul Iman

main jab tifl-e-maktab thaa, har baat, har falsafa janta tha

khade ho ke mimbar pe pahron salatin-e-parin-o-hazir

hikayat-shirin-o-talkh un kii, un ke darakhshan jaraem

jo safhat-e-tarikh par karname hain, un ke avamir

navahi, hakimon ke aqval, daana khatibon ke khutbe

jinhen mustamanadon ne baaqi rakkha us ka makhfi o zahir

funun-e-latifa khudavand ke hukm-name, faramin

jinhen maskh karte rahe pir-zade jahan ke anasir

har ik sakht mauzu par is tarah bolta tha ki mujh ko

samundar samajhte the sab ilm o fan kaa, har ik meri khatir

tag-o-dau men rahta thaa, lekin yakayak hua kya ye mujh ko

ye mahsus hota hai sote se uttha huun, hilne se qasir

kisi bahr ke suune sahil pe baitha huun gardan jhukae

sar-e-sham aai hai dekho to hai agahi kitni shatir!