khwaish

main iss umeed mein doob raha tha,
ki koi to hoga jo mujhe bacha lega,

saahil pe mere yaar par nazar gayi thi ek baar,
par mujhe kya pata tha ki,
dekh kar woh apni nazarein fira lega,

diya bhujte-bhujte bhuj hi jaata hai ek din,
zaroori nahi ki usse phir koi jala lega,

jis ki zubaan apni majbooriyon ke daanto talle kat gayi ho,
woh bebas insaan kisi se kya badla lega,

jo baat dil naa maane,

uss baat ko inkaar karna seekhle “khwaish”
zaroori nahi ki har baat par yun sar jhuka lenge log.

har mord par apne kadam phoonk kar rakhna “khwaish”
zaroori nahi ke sab jaha chal parde,

tu bhi wohi raahon ki disha lega.

yahan par khud par bhi kabhi aitbaar nahi hota “khwaish”
vaada kisi aur se tu kya lega.

gaiyro aur apno mein kyon fark karta hai “khwaish
tera apna bhi har mord par tera imtehaan lega.

apne ashko ko sambhaalna seekhle “khwaish"
kahi ro-ro kar inn ashko ko bhi tu gawa lega.

girte huye shaks ko sambhaalna asaan nahi hai “khwaish”
par umeed naa haar,

koi to hoga jo tujhe utha lega.