ghaat ke raste
us bansavat se
ik peelee-see chidiya
usaka kuchh achchha-sa naam hai!
mujhe pukaare!
taana maare,
bhar aaen, aankhadiyaan! unman,
ye phaagun kee shaam hai!
ghaat kee seedhee tod-tod kar ban-tulasa ug aayeen
jhuramut se chhan jal par padatee sooraj kee parachhaeen
totaapankhee kiranon mein hilatee baanson kee tahanee
yaheen baith kahatee thee tumase sab kahanee-anakahanee
aaj kha gaya bachhada maan kee raamaayan kee pothee!
achchha ab jaane do mujhako ghar mein kitana kaam hai!
is seedhee par, yaheen jahaan par lagee huee hai kaee
phisal padee thee main, phir baanhon mein kitana sharamaayee!
yaheen na tumane us din tod diya tha mera kangan!
yahaan na aaoongee ab, jaane kya karane lagata man!
lekin tab to kabhee na hamamen tumamen pal-bhar banatee!
tum kahate the jise chhaanh hai, main kahatee thee ghaam hai!
ab to neend nigodee sapanon-sapanon bhatakee dole
kabhee-kabhee to bade sakaare koyal aise bole
jyon sote mein kisee vishailee naagin ne ho kaata
mere sang-sang akasar chaunk-chaunk uthata sannaata
par phir bhee kuchh kabhee na jaahir karatee hoon is dar se
kaheen na koee kah de kuchh, ye rtu itanee badanaam hai!
ye phaagun kee shaam hai!