Kaifi Azmi

Aaj kii raat bahut garm hava chalti hai
aaj ki raat na footpaath pe neend aaegi
sab utho, main bhi uthoon , tum bhi utho, tum bhi utho
koi khidki isi deewaar mein khul jaaegii

ye zameen tab bhi nigal lene pe aamaada [prepared/ready] thii
paanv jab tooti shaakhon se utaare ham ne
in makaanon ko khabar hai na makeenon [residents] ko khabar
un dinon ki jo gufaaon mein guzaare ham ne

haath dhalate gaye saanche mein to thakte kaise
naqsh ke baad naye naqsh nikhare humne
kii ye deevaar buland (lofty) , aur buland, aur buland
baam-o-dar aur zaraa, aur sanvare humne
[ baam=terrace/roof; dar=door]

aandhiyan tod liya karti thi shamo ki lauein
jad diye is liye bijli ke sitare humne
ban gayaa qasr to pehre pe koi baith gayaa
so rahe khaak pe ham shorish-e-taameer liye
[Khaak=dust/earth; shorish=chaos/tumult; taamiir=construction]

apni nas-nas mein liye mehnat-e-paiham ki thakan
band aankhon mein isi qasr kii tasveer liye
din phighalta hai isi tarah saron par ab tak
raat aankhon mein khatakati hai syaah teer liye
[mehanat-e-paiham= continuous work/effort]
[thakan=fatigue; syaah=dark/black]

aaj ki raat bahut garm havaa chalti hai
aaj ki raat na footpaath pe neend aayegii
sab utho main bhii uthoon tum bhii utho tum bhii utho
koii khidkii isii deevaar mein khul jayegii