Raqs Ki Raat

raqs ki raat kisi ghamza-e-uryan ki kiran

is liye ban na saki rah-e-tamanna ki dalil

ki abhi duur kisi des men ik nanha charagh

jis se tanvir mire sina-e-gham-nak men hai

timtimata hai is andeshe men shayad ki sahar ho jaae

aur koi laut ke aa hi na sake!

raqs ki raat koi daur-e-tarab

ban na sakta tha sitaron ki khudai gardish?

mehvar-e-hal bhi ho, jada-e-ainda bhi

aur donon men vo paivastati-e-shauq bhi ho

jo kabhi sahil o dariya men na thii,

phir bhi haail rahe yuun buad-e-azim

lab hilen aur sukhan aghaz na ho

haath badh jaaen magar lamisa be-jan rahe?

tujhe maalum nahin,

ab bhi har subh dariche men se yuun jhankta huun

jaise tuute hue takhte se koi tiira nasib

sakht tufan men hasrat se ufuq ko dekhe:

kaash ubhar aae kahin se vo safina jo mujhe

is gham-e-marg-e-tah-e-ab se azad kare

raqs ki shab ki mulaqat se itna to hua

daman-e-zist se main aaj bhi vabasta huun,

lekin is takhta-e-nazuk se ye ummid kahan

ki ye chashm-o-lab-e-sahil ko kabhi chuum sake,