Contemporary · 1931–2002 · Amroha – Karachi
Jaun Eliya was born in Amroha and migrated to Karachi after Partition. A scholar of Arabic, Persian and philosophy, he wore his learning carelessly and made despair, self-mockery and impossible love the material of a wholly individual ghazal voice. Published late — his first collection "Shayad" appeared when he was 60 — he has become, since his death in 2002, one of the most quoted Urdu poets among younger readers.
bas ik ghubaar taur guman ka hai tah b tah
yaani nazar bhi kuchh nahi manzar bhi kuchh nahi
hai ab toh ek jaal sukoon hameeshgi
parwaaz ka toh zikr hi kya par bhi kuchh nahi
kitna daraaؤna hai ye shahar nabod w bood
aisa daraaؤna ki yahan dar bhi kuchh nahi
pahloo mein hai jo mere kahin aur hai wo shakhs
yaani wafa ahad ka bistar bhi kuchh nahi
nisbat mein un ki jo hai aziyyat wo hai magar
shah rag bhi koi shay nahi aur sar bhi kuchh nahi
yaaran tumhein jo mujh se gila hai toh kis liye
mujh ko toh atraaz khuda par bhi kuchh nahi
guzre gi jonaؔ shahar mein rishton ke kis tarah
dil mein bhi kuchh nahi hai zaban par bhi kuchh nahi
tire ghuroor ka haleeh bagaad daalon ga
mein aaj tera garebaan phaad daalon ga
tarah tarah ke shagoofe jo chhodta hai toh
mein dil ka baagh numoo hi ujaad daalon ga
kahan ka sail ajal ta kanaar gaah abad
mein hoon adam mein sabhi ko lataad daalon ga
bahut ada se toh guzra hai chashma saaron se
ye sun ki raah mein teri mein baad daalon ga
shaguftagi ki tiri yaad jo dalaate hain
mein aise saare hi podhe akhaad daalon ga
ye tay kya hai ki dariya mauj masti ko
saraab dasht tapeeda mein gaad daalon ga
tamaam naqsh tamannaa fareb the so the
mein saare naqsh tamannaa bagaad daalon ga
jo rishta hai dil jan ka hai sar b sar jhoota
so mein toh ab dil w jan mein daraad daalon ga
jhandole baalon ki par fitna us se kah dena
mein us kameen ko zinda hi gaad daalon ga
mujhe toh ab use dangal mein ganda karna hai
so mein use bure haalon pachhaad daalon ga
kya ho gaya hai gesoo kham daar ko tire
aazaad kar rahe hain giraftaar ko tire
ab toh hai muddaton se shab w roz robro
kitne hi din guzar gae deedaar ko tire
kal raat chob daar sameet aa ke le gaya
ik ghol tarahdaar sar daar ko tire