maiN huuN buraa, mujhe ik baar phir buraa kahiye
A poem by my teacher, mentor, and friend, Raj Kumar Qais saahib
sitam-she’aar, jafaa-kesh, fitnah-zaa kahiye
balaa se va’ada-shikan, sabr-aazmaa kahiye
jo jee meN aaye, ba-sad shauq, barmalaa kahiye
Hayaa ko chhoRiye aur saaf be-Hayaa kahiye
maiN huuN buraa, mujhe ik baar phir buraa kahiye
na meri baat meN mantiq, na seHr-e-vajdaana
na is meN ko’ii kahaanii, na ko’ii afsaana
miraa kalaam hai mohmal, asar se be-gaana
bajaa ke Dhol ise saaz-e-be-sadaa kahiye
maiN huuN buraa, mujhe ik baar phir buraa kahiye
adaa-e-Husn pe “jee jaan” se nisaar huuN maiN
KhizaaN-raseeda huuN par zeenat-e-bahaar huuN maiN
sitam-zareef sahii, phir bhi Gham-gusaar huuN maiN
ab aap chaaheN to gustaaKh, manchalaa kahiye
maiN huuN buraa, mujhe ik baar phir buraaa kahiye
voh bazm-e-aish thi, vaaN mast-e-naa-o-nosh thiiN aap
vufoor-e-kaif tha aur be-niyaaz-e-Hosh thiiN aap
maiN gosh gosh tha par hama-tan Khamosh thiiN aap
yeh taKhliya hai, yahaaN to “buraa-bhalaa” kahiye
maiN huuN buraa, mujhe ik baar phir buraa kahiye
maiN huuN zameeN pe magar aasmaaN ka taara huuN
maiN Duubte hu`e Khursheed kaa sahaara huuN
maiN har kisii ki nigaahoN meN maah-paara huuN
ab aap chaaheN to ik daaGh-e-bad-numaa kahiye
maiN huuN buraa, mujhe ik baar phir buraa kahiye
yeh ‘Qais’ saare zamaane meN sab se aa’laa hai
yeh laa-makaaN hi sahii, phir bhi dekha-bhaalaa hai
isii ke dam se guphaa’oN meN bhii ujaalaa hai
to phir yeh ‘Qais’ hai kaafir? — Khudaa Khudaa kahiye!
maiN huuN buraa, mujhe ik baar phir buraa kahiye