My Favourite Hindi Poetry - 1

This one is by Hariwansh Rai Bachchan:


Raat aadhi

Raat aadhi, kheenchkar meri hatheli ek unglise
likha tha ‘pyar’ tumne
Phansla kuch tha hamare bistaron mein
aur chaaro or duniya so rahi thi
taarikaayein hi gagan ki jaanti hain
jo disha dil ki tumhare ho rahi thi,
Main tumhare paas hokar door tumse
adhjagaa-sa aur adhsoya hua sa,
Raat aadhi, kheenchkar meri hatheli ek unglise
likha tha ‘pyar’ tumne

Ek bijli chhoo gayi sahsa jagaa main,
Krishn-pakshi chand nikla tha gagan mein,
Is tarah karvat padi thi tum ki aansoo,
Bah rahe the is nayan se us nayan mein,
Main lagaa doon aag us sansar mein,
hainpyar jismein is tarah asamarth kaatar,
Jaanti ho, us samay kya kar gujarne,
ke liye tha kar diya tayyar tumne,
Raat aadhi, kheenchkar meri hatheli ek unglise likha tha ‘pyar’ tumne

Prat ki hi or ko hain raat chalti,
Aur ujaale mein andhera doob jaata,
Manch hi poora badalta kaun aisii,
Khoobiyon ke saath parde ko uthaata,
Ek chehra-sa lagaa tumne liya tha,
Aur maine tha utaara ek chehra,
Vah nisha ka swapn mera tha ki apne,
Par gajab ka tha kiya adhikar tumne
Raat aadhi, kheenchkar meri hatheli ek unglise likha tha ‘pyar’ tumne

Aur utne phaansle par aaj tak
sauyatna karke bhi na aaye phir kabhi hum,
Phir na aaye vakt aisa,
phir na maukaus tarah ka,
phir na lauta chand nirmamaur
apni vedna main kya bataoon,
Kya nahin ye panktiya khud bolti hai -
Bujh nahin paaya abhi tak us samay jo,
rakh diya tha haanth par angaar tumne
Raat aadhi, kheenchkar meri hatheli ek unglise likha tha ‘pyar’ tumne