Nehru

Kaifi Azmi

main ne tanha kabhi us ko dekha nahin

phir bhi jab us ko dekha vo tanha mila

jaise sahra men chashma kahin

ya samundar men minar-e-nur

ya koi fikr-e-auham men

fikr sadiyon akeli akeli rahi

zehn sadiyon akela akela mila

aur akela akela bhatakta raha

har nae har purane zamane men vo

be-zaban tirgi men kabhi

aur kabhi chikhti dhuup men

chandni men kabhi khvab ki

us ki taqdir thi ik musalsal talash

khud ko dhunda kiya har fasane men vo

bojh se apne us ki kamar jhuk gai

qad magar aur kuchh aur badhta raha

khair-o-shar ki koi jang ho

zindagi ka ho koi jihad

vo hamesha hua sab se pahle shahid

sab se pahle vo suuli pe chadhta raha

jin taqazon ne us ko diya tha janam

un ki aghosh men phir samaya na vo

khuun men ved gunje hue

aur jabin par farozan azaan

aur siine pe raqsan salib

be-jhijhak sab ke qaabu men aaya na vo

haath men us ke kya tha jo deta hamen

sirf ik kiil us kiil ka ik nishan

nashsha-e-mai koi chiiz hai

ik ghadi do ghadi ek raat

aur hasil vahi dard-e-sar

us ne zindan men lekin piya tha jo zahr

uth ke siine se baitha na is ka dhuan