hum akele hi sahi shahr mein kya rakhte the

ham akele hī sahī shahr meñ kyā rakhte the

dil meñ jhāñko to ka.ī shahr basā rakhte the

ab kise dekhne baiThe ho liye dard kī zau

uTh ga.e log jo āñkhoñ meñ hayā rakhte the

is tarah taaza ḳhudāoñ se paḌā hai paalā

ye bhī ab yaad nahīñ hai ki ḳhudā rakhte the

chhīn kar kis ne bikherā hai shuāoñ kī tarah

raat kā dard zamāne se bachā rakhte the

le ga.iiñ jaane kahāñ garm havā.eñ un ko

phuul se log jo dāman meñ sabā rakhte the

kal jo dekhā to vo āñkhoñ meñ liye phirtā thā

haa.e vo chiiz ki ham sab se chhupā rakhte the

taaza zaḳhmoñ se chhalak uTThīñ purānī Tīseñ

varna ham dard kā ehsās nayā rakhte the

ye jo rote haiñ liye aañkh meñ TuuTe taare

apne chehre pe kabhī chāñd sajā rakhte the

aaj vo shahr-e-ḳhamoshāñ kī tarah haiñ 'ajmal'

kal talak shahr meñ jo dhuum machā rakhte the

hum akele hi sahi shahr mein kya rakhte the

dil mein jhanko to kai shahr basa rakhte the

ab kise dekhne baiThe ho liye dard ki zau

uTh gae log jo aankhon mein haya rakhte the

is tarah taza KHudaon se paDa hai pala

ye bhi ab yaad nahin hai ki KHuda rakhte the

chhin kar kis ne bikhera hai shuaon ki tarah

raat ka dard zamane se bacha rakhte the

le gain jaane kahan garm hawaen un ko

phul se log jo daman mein saba rakhte the

kal jo dekha to wo aankhon mein liye phirta tha

hae wo chiz ki hum sab se chhupa rakhte the

taza zaKHmon se chhalak uTThin purani Tisen

warna hum dard ka ehsas naya rakhte the

ye jo rote hain liye aankh mein TuTe tare

apne chehre pe kabhi chand saja rakhte the

aaj wo shahr-e-KHamoshan ki tarah hain 'ajmal'

kal talak shahr mein jo dhum macha rakhte the