Kolkata

mahrum hun main khidmat-e-ustad se 'munir' kalkatta mujh ko gor se bhi tang ho gaya

koi chhinta pade to 'dagh' kalkatte chale jaen azimabaad mein hum muntazir sawan ke baithe hain the couplet turns a tiny “splash” of rain into a signal for departure: a slight hint is enough to awaken an old desire. waiting for sawan (monsoon) becomes a metaphor for waiting for relief, union, or a change of fate. the speaker’s heart is so restless that it cannot endure delay; it clings to signs and moves the moment hope appears. distance between places mirrors the inner distance between longing and fulfillment.

khwab aansu ehtajaji zindagi puchhiye mat shahr-e-kalkatta hai kya

sisakti aarzu ka dard hun footpath jaisa hun ki mujh mein chhatpatata shahr-e-kalkatta bhi rahta hai

su-e-kalkatta jo hum ba-dil-e-diwana chale gungunate hue ek shokh ka afsana chale

kalkatta se bhi kijiye hasil koi to ilm sikhenge sehr-e-samri hum chashm-e-yar se

la-makan hai waste un ki maqam-e-bud-o-bash go ba-zahir kahne ko kalkatta aur lahore hai

kalkatta jo rahte the ganw wale hanste the

kalkatta mein har dam hai 'munir' aap ko wahshat har kothi mein har bangle mein jangla nazar aaya