haamid ik nanha-sa bachcha
usake koee na ammee-abba
ik daadee gurabat kee maaree
boodhee, bebas aur dukhyaaree
eed khadee thee jisake sar par
bin dekhe ye gam ka lashkar
daadee paas na rupaya-paisa
aur haamid bachcha nanha-sa
phir bhee jaise-taise karake
chhah aane jode mar-mar ke
teen aane haamid kee eedee
baaqee ka ghee aur shakar lee
aakhir haamid jab ghar aata
sab kee tarah sivayyaan khaata
haamid eedagaah jab pahuncha
eed ka mela har jaanib tha
usake saare dost khushee se
mol le rahe the marzee se
charakhee, bhishatee, ghode, haathee
raaja, raanee aur sipaahee
lattoo, seetee, gend aur jhoole
garaz vahaan the khoob khilaune
haamid ne lalachaakar socha
aur phir dil bahalaakar socha
ye sab hain bekaar khilaune
mittee ke laachaar khilaune
toot jaenge ghar jaate hee
khatm mithaee bas khaate hee
do din mein phenke jaenge
phir kisase dekhe jaenge
haamid ne phir samajha parakha
usake baad khareeda chimata
usakee daadee, pyaaree daadee
detee usako khaana-paanee
jalate tave pe rotee rakhatee
haath se usako roz palatatee
chimate se achchha kya hoga
kaam kee shai aur pakka loha
yaaron ne jab hansee udaayee
haamid ne bhee shaan dikhaayee
chimate ko afazal batalaaya
hikamat se khaamosh karaaya
dheere-dheere khoob hua phir
har bachcha maroob hua phir
ghar pahuncha to daadee gussa
dekh ke usake haath mein chimata
bolee tujhako kuchh na soojha?
din bhar ka too bhookha pyaasa!
haamid pooree baat bataakar
ruka zara-sa, ik lamha-bhar
daadee ne usako chipataaya
aansoo ka sailaab bahaaya
gussa badal gaya shafaqat mein
doob gaya dil is chaahat mein
nanha-sa dil machala hoga
hasarat se sab dekha hoga
phir bhee mol liya ik chimata
is maasoom ne kya kar daala
daadee par riqqat taaree thee
haamid par hairat taaree thee!
idgah