dhyan ki divaron se
gae dinon ki yaden kaise utarun
is calendar men jitni tasviren hain
sab mujh ko jaan se pyari hain
is men pahli tasvir jo hai
ye mera sahma sahma ḳhauf-zada bachpan
jis ke pas-manzar men jivan
sauteli maaon jaisi saffaki se mujh ko takta hai
mahrumi mere gaal masal kar
roti ka tukda deti hai
aur bhuuk tahoka deti hai
is men duuji tasvir jo hai
ye sabz ladakpan ki dahliz pe
nange paanv
phate libade
ḳhvabon ki ujli pariyon ki sangat men
ik bachchi daudi jaati hai
ik ḳhvahish udti jaati hai
rangin ghubaron ki surat
jo hathon se chhut jaate hain
us men agli tasvir jo hai
ye bhor samay ki duuri par
ik basti ki
jis basti men
ik angan hai
jis angan men
ik phuul sada se khila hua
ik aag musalsal raushan hai
vo aag
ki jis ko hijr ki andhi raten bhi kajla na sakin
vo phuul
ki jis ko dukh ki garm havaen bhi kumhla na sakin
in tasviron men zinda hai
in tasviron men raushan hai