ik chothi gusta'khi

"By paying tribute to the men and women whose only instrument is free speech, who imagine and act, UNESCO recognizes in poetry its value as a symbol of the human spirit’s creativity. By giving form and words to that which has none – such as the unfathomable beauty that surrounds us, the immense suffering and misery of the world – poetry contributes to the expansion of our common humanity, helping to increase its strength, solidarity and self-awareness."  

World Poetry Day21 March

Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO

ik chothi gusta'khi

likhna buhat kuch hay
laikin 'love' 'thee' aur 'thou'
kay hisaar say bachna
ger na mumkin nahiN 
tou mushkil hay buhat

kahooN kya jaan e munn
jo na likh diya ho
rumi o firdousi
beydil o kabir nay
ghalib, mir, browning
aur shakespeare, jon nay

mausamON kay her rung
zindagi kay za'viyay
ishq e haqeeqi ho 
ya majaazi yeh sub
baeed e dastras
nahiN oon kay qal'm say 

ger ijazat ho tou
maiN bhee qal'm-bund kardooN
tri woh muskurahat
tra woh her lamha saath
jo zindagi maiN mri
srif tum laee ho
srif tum laee ho