Here’s another favorite poem. Someone once said that I have bitter taste in poetry.. meaning that I like poetry full of sadness and grief and despair. I agree. I like to read such poetry again and again.

Ab kay safar main, tishna-labi main kia batla’ain kya kya dekha
Sehra’on ki pyas bujhaatay darya’on ko pyaasa dekha

Shayad wo bhi sard ruton kay chand si qismat laya ho ga
Sheher ki bheer main aksar jis ko hum nay tanha tanha dekha

Chara-garon ki qaid say chootay, tabeerain sub raakh huween
Ab kay dil main dard wo utra, ab kay khwab hi aisa dekha

Dard ka tajir baant raha tha galiyon main majrooh tabassum
Dil ki chout koi kia janay, zakhm ko aankh main gehra dekha

Kaisa shakhs tha zard ruton ki bheerh main jab bhi saamnay aaya
Uss ko dhoop sa khilta paaya, us ko phool sa khilta dekha

Abr ki chadar taan kay jheel main saaton rang rachanay utra
Moaj-e-aab ki teh main janay chand nay kis ka chehra dekha

Teray baad hamaray haal ki her rut aap gawaahi day gee
Her mausam main apni aankh main aik hi dard ka saya dekha

Mohsin band kiwaar kay peechay chhup rahi hai sehmi shum’ain
Jesay umr kay baad hawa nay meray ghar ka rasta dekha!

PS. I think this is written by Mohsin Naqvi. Could anyone confirm?