akhtar ul iman ki shayyiri

phir vahi maange huye lamhe, phir vahi jaam-e-sharab
phir vahi taariik raaton mein khayal-e-mahtaab
phir vahi taaron ki peshani pe rang-e-lazavaal
phir vahi bhuuli hui baaton ka dhundhala sa khayal
phir vo aankhen bheegi bheegi daaman-e-shab mein udas
phir vo ummiidon ke madafan[tomb] zindgi ke aas-paas
phir vahi farad[tomorrow/future] ki baaten phir vahi miithe saraab[illusion]
phir vahi bedaar aankhen phir vahi bedaar khwab
phir vahi vaaraftagi[to be lost in oneself] tanhaai afasanon ka khel
phir vahi rukhsaar vo aagosh vo zulf-e-siyah
phir vahi shahr-e-tamanna phir vahi taariik raah
zindgi ki bebasi uff waqt ke taariik jaal
dard bhi chhin’ne laga ummiid bhi chhin’ne lagi
mujhse meri aarzu-e-deed bhi chhin’ne lagi
phir wahi taariik maazii phir wahi bekaif[lifeless] haal
phir wahii besoz lamhen phir wahi jaam-e-sharab
phir vahi taariik raaton men khayal-e-mahtab

akhtar ul iman ki shayyiri

tumse berangi-e-hasti ka gila karna tha
dil pe anbaar hai khuungashta[dripping with blood] tamnnaon ka
aaj tuute huye taaron ka khayal aaya hai
ek mela hai pareshan si ummiidon ka
chand paz_murda[wilted]] baharon ka khayal aaya hai
paanv thak thak ke reh jaate hain mayusi mein
pur_mahan[full of sorrow] raah_guzaron ka khayal aaya hai
saaqi-o-baada nahin jaam-o-lab-e-juu[river side] bhi nahin
tumse kehna tha ki ab aankh mein aansu bhi nahin

akhtar ul iman ki shayyiri

dabi hui hai mere labon mein kahin pe vo aah bhi jo ab tak
na shola ban ke bhadak saki hai na ashq-e-besood[worthless tears] ban ke nikali
ghuti hui hai nafas ki hadh me.in jala diya jo jala saki hai
na shamma ban kar pighal saki hai na aaj tak duud[smoke] ban ke nikali
diya hai beshak meri nazar ko vo paratau[image] jo dard bakhshe
na mujh par gaalib[victorious] hi aa saki hai na mera masjuud[prayer] ban ke nikali

akhtar ul iman ki shayyiri

dayar-e-gaiir mein koi jahan na apna ho
shadiid qarb[sorrow] ki ghadiyaan guzaar chukane par
kuch ittefaaq ho aisa ki ek shaam kahin
kisi ek aisi jagah se ho yun hi mera guzar
jahan hujuum-e-gurezan[running crowd] mein tum nazar aa jaao
aur ek ek ko hairat se dekhta rahe

akhtar ul iman ki shayyiri

tumhare lahaje mein jo garmi-o-halavat[sweetness] hai
isse bhala sa koi naam do waffa ki jagah
ganiim[enemy]-e-nuur ka hamalaa kaho andheron par
dayar-e-dard mein aamad kaho masiiha ki
ravaan-davaan[scattered/spread] huye khushbu ke qaafile har suu
khala-e-subah[morning silence] mein gunji sahar ki shahanaai
ye ek kohara sa ye dhundh sii jo chhaai hai
iss iltahaab[stupor] mein surmagiin ujaale mein
siva tumhare mujhe kuch nazar nahin aata
hayat naam hai yaadon ka talkh aur shiiriin[sweet]
bhala kisi ne kabhi rang-o-buu ko pakada hai
shafaq[twilight/night] ko qaid mein rakha saba ko bandh kiya
har ek lamha gurezan[fleeing/fleeting] hai jaise dushman hai
na tum milogi na main ham bhi donon lamhe hain
vo lamhen ja ke jo vapas kabhi nahin aate

akhtar ul iman ki shayyiri

shaam hoti hai sahar hoti hai ye waqt-e-ravaan[passing time]
jo kabhi mere sar pe sang-garaan[heavy stone] ban ke gira
raah mein aaya kabhi meri himaala[Himalayas] ban kar
jo kabhi ukdaa[problem] bana aisa ki haal hi na hua
ashq ban kar meri aankhon se kabhi tapka hai
jo kabhi khoon-e-jigar ban ke mizshgaan[eyelash] par aaya
aaj bevasta[without any relationship] yun guzra chala jaata hai
jaise main kashmakash-e-ziist mein shamil hi nahin

akhtar ul iman ki shayyiri

aao ki jashn-e-marg-e-muhabbat[celebration of the death of love] manaayen ham
aati nahin kahin se dil-e-zindaaki sadaa
suune pade hain kuucha-o-bazaar ishq ke
hai shama-e-anjumn ka naya husn-e-jaan gudaaz[melted]
shayad nahin rahe vo patangon ke valvale
taaza na rakh sakegi rivayat-e-dasht-o-dar
vo fitnasar[mad] gaye jinhen kaanten aziiz thay
ab kuch nahin toh neend se aankhen jalayen ham
aao ki jashn-e-marg-e-muhabbat manayen ham
socha na tha ki aayega ye din bhi phir kabhi
ik baar ham mile hain zara muskura toh len
kya jaane ab na ulfat-e-deriina[old love] yaad aaye
iss husn-e-ikhtiyar pe aankhen jhuka toh len
barsa labon se phuul teri umar ho daraaz
sambhale huye toh hain par zara dagmaga toh len