nauha-e-suKHan

mujh ko ye Dar hai mire dost mire yaar kahīñ

gir na jaa.e tire ash.ār kā me.aar kahīñ

dekh kar qadr-shanāsoñ kī tabī'at kā rang

mar na jaa.e tire andar kā kalā-kār kahīñ

pūchhtā kaun hai shā.ir yā suḳhanvar ko ab

aaj ke daur meñ kyā hai batā azmat in kī

dil ko chhū lete haiñ maanā tire naġhme lekin

kyā hai logoñ kī nazar meñ batā qīmat in kī

pūchh kar aa tū zarā shahr ke bāzāroñ se

ek bhī jins-e-suḳhan kā hai ḳharīdār kahīñ

sher kī jāñch-parakh to hai baḌī duur kī baat

ab to mushkil se mileñ sher samajhne vaale

aise māhaul meñ ash.ār kahe kyā koī

is fazā meñ koī kyā shauq suḳhan kā paale

qadr hī jab nahīñ is fan kī rahī kuchh baaqī

kyā numā.ish kare fan apne kī fankār kahīñ

aaj kī nasl adab aur virāsat bhūlī

aglī pīḌhī to hai urdu zabāñ hī se mahrūm

kyā sarāheñ vo tirā fan tirā andāz-e-bayāñ

jin ko alfāz ke ma.anī bhī nahīñ haiñ ma.alūm

is fazā se mujhe Dar hai ki muta.assir ho kar

maan le tū bhī na ai dost mire haar kahīñ

mujh ko ye Dar hai mere dost mere yar kahin

gir na jae tere ashaar ka mear kahin

dekh kar qadr-shanason ki tabi'at ka rang

mar na jae tere andar ka kala-kar kahin

puchhta kaun hai shair ya suKHanwar ko ab

aaj ke daur mein kya hai bata azmat in ki

dil ko chhu lete hain mana tere naghme lekin

kya hai logon ki nazar mein bata qimat in ki

puchh kar aa tu zara shahr ke bazaron se

ek bhi jins-e-suKHan ka hai KHaridar kahin

sher ki jaanch-parakh to hai baDi dur ki baat

ab to mushkil se milen sher samajhne wale

aise mahaul mein ashaar kahe kya koi

is faza mein koi kya shauq suKHan ka pale

qadr hi jab nahin is fan ki rahi kuchh baqi

kya numaish kare fan apne ki fankar kahin

aaj ki nasl adab aur wirasat bhuli

agli piDhi to hai urdu zaban hi se mahrum

kya sarahen wo tera fan tera andaz-e-bayan

jin ko alfaz ke mani bhi nahin hain malum

is faza se mujhe Dar hai ki mutassir ho kar

man le tu bhi na ai dost mere haar kahin