In the early days when Urdu poetry started making sense and the feeling that the “shayers” (poets) express through words are actually felt, it was natural to start rhyming some words and make out a few couplets here and there. While cleaning up an old carton today, out came of a piece of paper from the early days of UTP – The Poet.

Just so that this particular piece of poetry doesn’t get lost in time, I wanted to put it up in the blogosphere. Please bear with me. I don’t think I will ever write poetry again so criticize all you want.

Pehlay Kee Tarhan

Kya ab bhee mujhay ho chahti, pehlay kee tarhaan
Mujhay dekh kay ho sharmaati, pehlay kee tarhaan

Mein sab ko batata hoon apnay ishq kee daastaan
Tum ab bhee ho chupaati, pehlay kee tarhaan

Mein nay tumhein chaha, tum nay mujhay chaha
Phir ehsaan kyon ho jatati, pehlay kee tarhaan

Kya ab bhee raat ko batti nahi bujhaati
Kya ab bhee ho ghabraati, pehlay kee tarhaan

Mein nay tou chaaha rakh loon dil mein chuppa kay tum ko
Tum ab bhee nahin samaati, pehlay kee tarhaan

Tumhein bhoolnay kee koshish raaigaan hee challi gayee
Mujhay yaad ho ab bhee aati, pehlay kee tarhaan

Tumhein chorr chala jaaon ga, mazaqqan kaha tha mein nay
Par ho na tum jazbati, pehlay kee tarhaan

Tum hee ko mein hoon chahta, tum hee ho meray dilbur
Tum hee ho mujh ko bhaati, pehlay kee tarhaan

Meri baaton pay na jaana, mein ho gaya deewana
Sach mein ho yaad aati, pehlay kee tarhaan

Tumhein bhool jaaon jaana tumhee nay tou kaha tha
Ab kyon ho yaad aati, pehlay kee tarhaan

Ek Umr~ beeth gayee hay tum hee ko chahtay chahtay
Meri nafs hee hay bataati, pehlay kee tarhaan