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!
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