ye kaun sa shahr hai

hairān huuñ

ye kaun sā shahr hai

'mīr'-o-'ġhālib' kī dillī kabhī aisī to na thī

har galī har nukkaḌ par saañp kunDlī maare baiThe haiñ yahāñ

paidā hote hī koī bhī sañpola

Dasne ke liye par tolne lagtā hai

jidhar dekhiye

har jagah saañp hī saañp haiñ

kahīñ ḳhūnī darvāze ke aqab se

to kahīñ dhaula-kuāñ ke fly over par

har jagah kunDlī maare hue yahāñ

hazār-hā saañp aise haiñ

jo har dam tayyār baiThe haiñ

mauqa.a milte hī

vo kisī bhī narm-o-gudāz badan ko

nishāna apnā banā lete haiñ

apne zahrīle daañt gaaḌ ne ke liye

jab vo phanphanā kar bāhar aate haiñ

kisī bhī rāhgīr kā rasta roke

ek dam

tan ke khaḌe ho jaate haiñ

hattā ki

būḌhā naag bhī ab yahāñ

apne khañDar meñ tan ke khaḌā hai

use bhī intizār hai

barsāt kī us kaalī añdherī raat kā hai

jab vo bul-havas

apne kohna-mashq dāñtoñ ko

kisī narm-o-nāzuk ġhazāla par

tez kar sake hamla-e-ḳhūñ-rez kar sake

apnī umr ke is āḳhirī paḌāv meñ vo bul-havas

koī vārdāt-e-junūñ-añgez qayāmat-ḳhez kar sake

yā ḳhudā

ye kaun sā maqām hai

kyā ye terā qahr nahīñ hai

kyā ye vahī purānā shahr nahīñ hai

sochtā huuñ

'mīr'-o-'ġhālib' kī dillī kabhī aisī to na thī

hairan hun

ye kaun sa shahr hai

'mir'-o-'ghaalib' ki dilli kabhi aisi to na thi

har gali har nukkaD par sanp kunDli mare baiThe hain yahan

paida hote hi koi bhi sanpola

Dasne ke liye par tolne lagta hai

jidhar dekhiye

har jagah sanp hi sanp hain

kahin KHuni darwaze ke aqab se

to kahin dhaula-kuan ke fly ower par

har jagah kunDli mare hue yahan

hazar-ha sanp aise hain

jo har dam tayyar baiThe hain

mauqa milte hi

wo kisi bhi narm-o-gudaz badan ko

nishana apna bana lete hain

apne zahrile dant gaD ne ke liye

jab wo phanphana kar bahar aate hain

kisi bhi rahgir ka rasta roke

ek dam

tan ke khaDe ho jate hain

hatta ki

buDha nag bhi ab yahan

apne khanDar mein tan ke khaDa hai

use bhi intizar hai

barsat ki us kali andheri raat ka hai

jab wo bul-hawas

apne kohna-mashq danton ko

kisi narm-o-nazuk ghazala par

tez kar sake hamla-e-KHun-rez kar sake

apni umr ke is aaKHiri paDaw mein wo bul-hawas

koi wardat-e-junun-angez qayamat-KHez kar sake

ya KHuda

ye kaun sa maqam hai

kya ye tera qahr nahin hai

kya ye wahi purana shahr nahin hai

sochta hun

'mir'-o-'ghaalib' ki dilli kabhi aisi to na thi