Afsana-E-Shahr

Noon Meem Rashid

shahr ke shahr ka afsana vo khush-fahm magar saada musafir

ki jinhen ishq ki lalkar ke rahzan ne kaha: aao!

dikhlaen tumhen ek dar-e-basta ke asrar ka khvab

shahr ke shahr ka afsana vo dil jin ke bayaban men

kisi qatra-e-gum-gashta ke nagah larazne ki sada ne ye kaha:

”aao dikhlaen tumhen subh ke honton pe tabassum ka sarab!”

shahr ke shahr ka afsana vahi arzu-e-khasta ke langdate hue pair

ki hain aaj bhi afsane ki duzdida o zhulida lakiron pe ravan

un asiron ki tarah jin ke rag-o-reshe ki zanjir ki jhankar

bhi tham jaae to kah utthen kahan

”ab kahan jaenge ham

jaaen ab taaza o nadida nigahon ke zamistan men kahan?”

un asiron ki tarah jin ke liye vaqt ki be-sarfa salakhen

na kabhi sard na garm aur na kabhi sakht na narm

na rihai ki pazirai na asiri hi ki sharm

shahr ke shahr ka afsana vo ruhen jo sar-e-pul ke siva

aur kahin vasl ki juuya hi nahin

pul se jinhen paar utarne ki tamanna hi nahin

is ka yaara hi nahin!