ai matawalo! naqon walo!!

ai matavālo nāqoñ vaalo dete ho kuchh us kā patā

najd ke andar majnūñ naamī ek hamārā bhaa.ī thā

āḳhir us par kyā kuchh biitī jaano to ahvāl kaho

maut milī yā lailā pā.ī? dīvāne kā ma.aal kaho

aql kī bāteñ kahne vaale dostoñ ne use samjhāyā

us ko to lekin chup sī lagī thī nā bolā nā baaz aayā

ḳhair ab us kī baat ko chhoḌo dīvānā phir dīvānā

jaate jaate ham logoñ kā ek sandesā le jaanā

āvāra āvāra phirnā chhoḌ ke mañDlī yāroñ kī

dekh rahe haiñ dekhne vaale 'inshā' kā ab haal vahī

kyā achchhā ḳhush-bāsh javāñ thā jaane kyuuñ bīmār huā

uThte baiThte miir kī baiteñ paḌhnā us kā shi.ār huā

taur-tarīqa ukhḌā-ukhḌā chehrā piilā saḳht malūl

raah meñ jaise ḳhaak pe koī maslā maslā baaġh kā phuul

shaam savere baal bikhere baiThā baiThā rotā hai

nāqoñ vālo! in logoñ kā aalam kaisā hotā hai

apnā bhī vo dost thā ham bhī paas us ke baiTh aate haiñ

idhar udhar ke qisse kah ke jī us kā bahlāte haiñ

ukhḌī-ukhḌī baat kare hai bhuul ke aglā yārānā

kaun ho tum kis kaam se aa.e? ham ne na tum ko pahchānā

jaane ye kis ne choT lagā.ī jaane ye kis ko pyaar kare

tumhī kaho ham kis ko DhūñDeñ aaheñ khīñche naam na le

piit meñ aise jaan se yaaro kitne log guzarte haiñ

piit meñ nāhaq mar nahīñ jaate piit to saare karte haiñ

ai matvālo nāqoñ vālo! nagrī nagrī jaate ho

kahīñ jo us kī jaan kā bairī mil jaa.e ye baat kaho

chāk-girebāñ ik dīvāna phirtā hai hairāñ hairāñ

patthar se sar phoḌ maregā dīvāne ko sabr kahāñ

tum chāho to bastī chhoḌe tum chāho to dasht basā.e

ai matavālo nāqoñ vaalo varna ik din ye hogā

tum logoñ se aate jaate pūchheñge 'inshā' kā patā

ai matawalo naqon walo dete ho kuchh us ka pata

najd ke andar majnun nami ek hamara bhai tha

aaKHir us par kya kuchh biti jaano to ahwal kaho

maut mili ya laila pai? diwane ka maal kaho

aql ki baaten kahne wale doston ne use samjhaya

us ko to lekin chup si lagi thi na bola na baz aaya

KHair ab us ki baat ko chhoDo diwana phir diwana

jate jate hum logon ka ek sandesa le jaana

aawara aawara phirna chhoD ke manDli yaron ki

dekh rahe hain dekhne wale 'insha' ka ab haal wahi

kya achchha KHush-bash jawan tha jaane kyun bimar hua

uThte baiThte mir ki baiten paDhna us ka shiar hua

taur-tariqa ukhDa-ukhDa chehra pila saKHt malul

rah mein jaise KHak pe koi masla masla bagh ka phul

sham sawere baal bikhere baiTha baiTha rota hai

naqon walo! in logon ka aalam kaisa hota hai

apna bhi wo dost tha hum bhi pas us ke baiTh aate hain

idhar udhar ke qisse kah ke ji us ka bahlate hain

ukhDi-ukhDi baat kare hai bhul ke agla yarana

kaun ho tum kis kaam se aae? hum ne na tum ko pahchana

jaane ye kis ne choT lagai jaane ye kis ko pyar kare

tumhi kaho hum kis ko DhunDen aahen khinche nam na le

pit mein aise jaan se yaro kitne log guzarte hain

pit mein nahaq mar nahin jate pit to sare karte hain

ai matwalo naqon walo! nagri nagri jate ho

kahin jo us ki jaan ka bairi mil jae ye baat kaho

chaak-gireban ek diwana phirta hai hairan hairan

patthar se sar phoD marega diwane ko sabr kahan

tum chaho to basti chhoDe tum chaho to dasht basae

ai matawalo naqon walo warna ek din ye hoga

tum logon se aate jate puchhenge 'insha' ka pata