Qadam

zinia phir haya sey bojhil hai
sherbati baatein balcony se 
uske lab pe phisal rahi hain

ab toh koi chaand ko gul kare

usska rukh uss ufaq kii taraf uthta nahi

jo teri sanson ke sheeshe mein

dhalti jaa rahi hai

jaise resham shaam ke seene se phisalti jaa rahi hai

mere qadam iss lawn pe mujhse aage chalte hain

raah mein soyi sadiyon ke qataar milte hain

zaraa aur aagey ik khidki ki aankhen nam hain

usne terey puraney dinon ki uttran pahni thhi

geeley alfaaz uss se mera shikwa karte hain

raah main koi pathhar bhi nai

ki main apne ashaar ka khoon karun

aur khud apne rawa ankhon se unko ghusal dun

teri palkon key kinare
qandeelon ke baagh roshan toh thhey
yeh sunehra andhera qashtiyon ke saath
bah kar aya hai?

hazaron pyale chuur huye samandar kinare

yahan waqt khud kab sey  rezah rezah hai

thodi dur, kuchh agey

surkh titliyon ke qafile hain

kuchh zara aur dur

teri khusbooun ke mazaar milte hain

ik dareecha khulta hai, ik qadeem

safar shuru hota hai


© Saima Afreen (Photograph and poem)