Ibn-e-Insha

Ibn-e-Insha is known for simple language in much of his poetry; this poem evokes images of a simpler time -- there is almost an innocence in the easy nature of the writing:

Hum ghoom chuke bastee ban men
Ik aas kee phaans liye man men
Koi saajan ho koi pyaaraa ho
Koi deepak ho koi taaraa ho
Jab jeevan raat andhereee ho
        Ik baar kaho tum meri ho

Jab saawan baadal chaae hon
Jab phaagan phool khilaae hon
Jab chandaa roop lutaataa ho
Jab sooraj dhoop nahaataa ho
Yaa shaam ne bastee gheree ho
        Ik baar kaho tum meri ho

Haan dil kaa daaman phaelaa hai
Kyoon goree kaa dil maelaa hai
Hum kab tak peet ke dhoke men
Tum kab tak door jharoke men
Kab deed se dil ko seree ho
        Ik baar kaho tum meri ho

Kyaa jhagraa sood khasaare kaa
Yeh kaaj nahin banjaare kaa
Sab sonaa roopa le jaae
Sab duniya duniya le jaae
Tum ek mujhe bahteree ho
        Ik baar kaho tum meri ho