ahl e zahir, you and i / ahl e zahir, aap aur hum

ahl e zahir, you and i
familiar countenance
unfamiliar faces
vast city
constricting hearts
familiarity laced with suspicion
bred over centuries
nourished by inequality, injustice

in this quaint struggle
together, yet alone in the crowd
imprisoned in halos
individuals stive
sans destination
sans guide

multitudes assay to wash
today’s utter darkness
with century-extinguished flames

but all is not lost, my friend
artists, writers, seekers
with the oil of passionate convictions
keep the flicker of hope alive
come, let's join them!

ahl e zahir, aap aur hum
yahaan bhee
her chehra manoos
phir bhee
shanasaa nahiN koi

buhat roshan hay
wasii hay yeh sheh'r
buhat log haiN
wasii ul qal'b nahiN m'gar

manoosiyat kO bhee ajnabiyat kay khOl say
tatOltay haiN apnay mashkook paimanON say

a'jub jeh'd maiN rawaaN hay qaafla
is sheh'r e aziz ka
infiradi khOl main muqayyad
a'lug a'lug aur saath saath
--a'jub jeh'd hay yeh
manzil na rah numa
aaj ki tareeki kO
sadiON bujhi shamaa say
do'or karnay ki saee

laikin dost m'ray
musawwar, musannif, talib
chund majnoon sar phiray
ummeed ka dya roshan kyay
sar gardaan haiN
ummeed ka dya
taghayyuraat e zamaaN say
muqaabla zun hay

du'aaOn kO choRh ker
chalo hum bhee kuch
kar ja'aiN!