uski sard haweli tak dhup ka tapta sahra tha

us kī sard havelī tak dhuup kā taptā sahrā thā

oT meñ sūkhī jhāḌī ke saaya chhup kar baiThā thā

guuñj rahī thī jab ye sadā asmā kī tashrīh karo

bol rahā thā sirf insāñ chaar taraf sannāTā thā

māhī-gīr akelā thā lauT ke kaise ghar aatā

naav ke chappū TuuTe the aur samundar gahrā thā

ham ne jo ghar-bār tajā ek sitāre kī ḳhātir

an-dekhī duniyāoñ se aisā kaun sā rishta thā

fitrat kī be-zarfī bhī kyā kyā ruup badaltī hai

aag lagī thī jab ghar meñ Tuut ke bādal barsā thā

saaya bāñTne vaalā ḳhud saa.e se mahrūm rahe

qismat ne in peḌoñ ko dhuup meñ jalnā likkhā thā

kūza-garoñ kī bastī meñ miTTī kī kam-yābī se

kuuze kitne mahñge the paanī kitnā sastā thā

ik mauhūm nishānī par 'tālib' ham ne kuuch kiyā

manzil bhī anjānī thī rasta bhī an-dekhā thā

us ki sard haweli tak dhup ka tapta sahra tha

oT mein sukhi jhaDi ke saya chhup kar baiTha tha

gunj rahi thi jab ye sada asma ki tashrih karo

bol raha tha sirf insan chaar taraf sannaTa tha

mahi-gir akela tha lauT ke kaise ghar aata

naw ke chappu TuTe the aur samundar gahra tha

hum ne jo ghar-bar taja ek sitare ki KHatir

an-dekhi duniyaon se aisa kaun sa rishta tha

fitrat ki be-zarfi bhi kya kya rup badalti hai

aag lagi thi jab ghar mein Tut ke baadal barsa tha

saya banTne wala KHud sae se mahrum rahe

qismat ne in peDon ko dhup mein jalna likkha tha

kuza-garon ki basti mein miTTi ki kam-yabi se

kuze kitne mahnge the pani kitna sasta tha

ek mauhum nishani par 'talib' hum ne kuch kiya

manzil bhi anjaani thi rasta bhi an-dekha tha