Ab Bhi Raushan Hain

Ali Sardar Jafri

ab bhi raushan hain vahi dast hina-aluda

reg-e-sahra hai na qadmon ke nishan baaqi hain

khushk ashkon ki nadi khuun ki thahri hui dhaar

bhule-bisre hue lamhat ke sukhe hue khaar

haath uthae hue aflak ki janib ashjar

kamrani hi ki ginti na hazimat ka shumar

sirf ik dard ka jangal hai faqat hu ka dayar

jab guzarti hai magar khvabon ke virane se

ashk-aluda tabassum ke charaghon ki qatar

jagmaga uthte hain gesu-e-saba-aluda

toliyan aati hain nau-umr tamannaon ki

dasht-e-be-rang-e-khamoshi men machati hui shor

phuul mathe se baraste hain nazar se taare

ek ik gaam pe jaadu ke mahl bante hain

naddiyan bahti hain anchal se hava chalti hai

pattiyan hansti hain udta hai kiran ka sona

aisa lagta hai ki be-rahm nahin hai duniya

aisa lagta hai ki be-zulm zamane ke hain haath

bevafai bhi ho jis tarah vafa-aluda

aur phir shakhon se talvaren baras padti hain

jabr jaag uthta hai saffaki javan hoti hai

saae jo sabz the pad jaate hain pal bhar men siyah

aur har mod pe ifriton ka hota hai guman

koi bhi raah ho maqtal ki taraf mudti hai

dil men khanjar ke utarne ki sada aati hai

tirgi khuun ke ujale men naha jaati hai

sham-e-gham hoti hai namnak o ziya-aluda

yahi mazlumon ki jiit aur yahi zalim ki shikast

ki tamannaen salibon se utar aati hain

apni qabron se nikalti hain masiha ban kar

qatl-gahon se vo uthti hain duaon ki tarah

dasht o dariya se guzarti hain havaon ki tarah

mohr jab lagti hai honton pe zaban par taale

qaid jab hoti hai siine men dilon ki dhadkan

ruuh chikh uthti hai hilte hain shajar aur hajar

khamushi hoti hai kuchh aur nava-aluda

sar-kashi dhundhti hai zauq-e-gunahgari ko

khud se sharminda nahin auron se sharminda nahin

ye mira dil ki hai masum o khata-alud