lucknow.. kaifi aazmi

one of my favorite ones... 

azaa mein behatey they aasoon yahaan lahoo toh nahi; 

yeh koi aur jagah hogi, mera lucknow toh nahi...

yahaan toh chalti hai churriyan zubaan se pehle,

yeh meer 'anees' ki, 'aatash' ki guftagoo toh nahi...

tapak raha hai zakhmon se jo donon firrko ke;

bagaur dekho yeh islam ka lahoo toh nahi...

tum iska rakh lo koi aur naam moujoo-sa;

kiyaa hai khoon jo tumne woh wajoo toh nahi...

boojha rahein hai jisse aap apney daaman mein;

kahi woh aap hi ki shama-e-aarzoo toh nahi...

samajh ke maal mera jisko tumney loota hai;

padosiyon! woh tumhari hi aabroo toh nahi....

translation: 

tears have flowed here in sorrow, but never blood,

this must be some other place, or lucknow could it be?

here knives move faster than tounges can aspire,

the language of Mir 'Anees' and 'Atash' could it be?

the blood that drips from the wounds of both communities,

examine it carefully, Islam's blood could it be?

give it any other name that you consider apt,

what you have done in blood, ablution could it be?

this that you extinguish with your own garment,

the flame of your dreams for the morrow could it be?

all you have looted thinking it mine,

o neighbours, your own honour could it be?