‘ParchhaiyaaN’ is one of Sahir’s best work. His anti-war thoughts, his broken-hearted laments, all packaged in one long poem. He wrote this poem in 1956 and here it is for you guys to enjoy and as usual, a glossary of difficult Urdu words is present below:

javaan raat ke seene pe dudhiyaa aaNchal
machal rahaa hai kisii Kh(w)aab-e-marmariiN kii tarah
haseen phool, hasiiN pattiyaaN, hasiiN shaaKheiN
lachak rahii haiN kisii jism-e-naazniiN kii tarah
fazaa meiN ghul se gaye haiN ufaq ke narm Khatuut
zameeN haseen hai, Kh(w)aaboN ki sarzameeN kii tarah

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN
kabhii gumaan kii suurat, kabhii yaqeeN kii tarah
vo peR jinke tale ham panaah lete the
khaRe haiN aaj bhii saakit kisii ameeN kii tarah

inhiiN ke saaye meiN phir aaj do dhaRakte dil
khamosh hoNToN se kuchh kahne-sun_ne aaye haiN
na jaane kitnii kashakash se, kitnii kaavish se
ye sote jaagte lamhe churaake laaye haiN

yahii fazaa thii, yahii rut, yahii zamaanaa thaa
yahiiN se hamne muhabbat kii ibtadaa kii thii
dhaRakte dil se, laraztii hui nigaahoN se
huzuur-e-Ghaib meiN nanhii sii iltajaa kii thii

k aarzuu ke kaNval khil ke phool ho jaayeiN
dil-o-nazar kii du’aayeiN qubool ho jaayeiN

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN

tum aa rahii ho zamaane kii aaNkh se bach kar
nazar jhukaaye hue, aur badan churaaye hue
Khud apne qadmoN kii aahaT se jheNptii, Dartii
Khud apne saaye kii jumbish se Khauf khaaye hue

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN

ravaaN hai chhoTii sii kashtii havaaoN ke rukh par
nadii ke saaz pe mallaaH geet gaataa hai
tumhaara jism har ik lahar ke jhakole se
mirii khulii huii baahoN meiN jhool jaataa hai

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN

maiN phool TaaNk rahaa houN tumhaare jooRe meiN
tumhaari aaNkh massarrat se jhuktii jaatii hai
na jaane aaj maiN kyaa baat kahne vaalaa houN
zabaan Khushk hai aavaaz ruktii jaatii hai

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN

mire gale meiN tumhaarii gudaaz baaheiN haiN
tumhaare hoNToN pe mere laboN ke saaye haiN
mujhe yaqeeN hai k ham ab kabhii na bichhReiNge
tumheiN gumaan k ham mil ke bhii paraaye haiN

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN

mire palaNg pe bikhrii huii kitaaboN ko
adaa-e-ajz-o-karam se uThaa rahii ho tum
suhaag raat ko Dholak pe gaaye jaate haiN
dabe suroN meiN vahii geet gaa rahii ho tum

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN

vo lamhe kitne dilkash the, vo ghaRiyaaN kitnii pyaarii thiiN
vo sahre kitne naazuk the, vo laRiyaaN kitnii pyaarii thiiN
bastii kii har ik shaadaab galii Kh(w)aaboN ka jazeera thii goya
har mauj-e-nafas, har mauj-e-sabaa, naGhmoN ka zaKheera thii goyaa

naagah lahakte khetoN se TaapoN ki sadaayeiN aane lagiiN
baaruud kii bojhal buu lekar, pachham se havaayeiN aane lagiiN
taameer ke roshan chehre par, taKhriib kaa baadal phail gayaa
har gaaNv meiN wahshat naach uThii har shahr meiN jangal phail gayaa
maGhrib ke muhazzab mulkoN se, kuchh Khaaki vardii-posh aaye
iThlaate hue maGhroor aaye, lahraate hue madhosh aaye
Khaamosh zameeN ke seene meiN, khemoN kii tanaaveiN gaRne lagiiN
makkhan sii mulaayam raahoN par, booToN kii KharaasheiN paRne lagiiN
faujoN ke bhayaanak baND tale, charKhoN kii sadaayeiN Doob gayiiN
jeepoN kii sulagtii dhool tale, phooloN kii qabaayeiN Doob gayiiN

insaan kii qeemat girne lagii, ajnaas ke bhaao chaRne lage
chaupaal kii raunaq ghaTne lagii, bhartii ke dafaatar baRne lage
bastii ke sajeele shauKh javaaN, ban ban ke sipaahii jaane lage
jis raah se kam hi lauT sake, us raah pe raahii jaane lage

in jaane vaale dastoN meiN Ghairat bhi gayii, barnaaii bhii
maaoN ke javaaN beTe bhi gaye, bahnoN ke chahete bhaii bhii

bastii pe udaasii chhaane lagii , meloN kii bahaareiN Khatm huiiN
aamoN kii lachaktii shaaKhoN se, jhooloN kii kataareiN Khatm huiiN

dhool uRne lagii baazaaroN meiN, bhookh ugne lagii KhaliyaanoN meiN
har cheez dukaanoN se uThkar, ruu-posh huii tahKhaanoN meiN

bad-haal gharoN kii bad-haali, baRte baRte janjaal banii
mahNgaaii baRkar kaal banii, saarii bastii kangaal banii

charvaahiyaaN rastaa bhool gayiiN, pinhariyaaN panghaT chhoR gayiiN
kitnii hi kaNvaarii ablaayeiN, maaN-baap kii chaukhaT chhoR gayiiN

iflaas-zadaa dahqaanoN ke, hal-bail bike, khaliyaan bike
jeene kii tamannaa ke haathoN, jeene hi ke sab saamaan bike

kuchh bhii na rahaa jab bikne ko, jismoN kii tijaarat hone lagi
Khalwat meiN bhii jo mamnoo’ thii vo jalvat meiN jasaarat hone lagii

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN

tum aa rahii ho sar-e-aam baal bikhraaye hue
hazaar gonaa malaamat kaa baar uThaaye hue

hawas-parast nigaahoN kii cheerah-dastii se
badan kii jheNptii uriyaaniyaaN chhupaaye hue

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN

maiN shahr jaake har ik dar ko jhaaNk aayaa houN
kisii jagah meri mehnat ka mol mil na sakaa
sitamgaroN ke siyaasii qimaarKhaane meiN
alam-nasiib farsaat ka mol mil na sakaa

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN

tumhaare ghar meiN qayaamat ka shor barpaa hai
mahaaz-e-jaNg se harkaaraa taar laayaa hai
k jiskaa zikr tumheiN zindagii se pyaaraa thaa
vo bhaaii narGhaa-e-dushman meiN kaam aayaa hai

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN

har ek gaam pe badnaamiyoN kaa jamghaT hai
har ek moR pe rusvaaiyoN ke mele haiN
na dostii, na takalluf, na dilbarii, na Khaloos
kisii kaa koii nahiiN aaj sab akele haiN

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN

vo rahguzar jo mere dil ki tarah soonii hai
na jaane tumko kahaaN le ke jaane vaalii hai
tumheiN Khareed rahe haiN zameer ke qaatil
ufaq pe Khoon-e-tamannaa-e-dil kii laalii hai

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN

sooraj ke lahoo meiN lithRii huii, vo shaam hai ab tak yaad mujhe
chaahat ke sunahare Kh(w)aaboN kaa anjaam hai ab tak yaad mujhe

us shaam mujhe ma’aloom huaa, khetoN kii tarah is duniyaa meiN
sahmii huii dosheezaaoN kii muskaan bhi bechii jaatii hai
us shaam mujhe ma’aloom huaa, is kaargah-e-zardaarii meiN
do bholi bhaali roohoN kii pahchaan bhi bechii jaatii hai

us shaam mujhe ma’aloom huaa, jab baap ki kheti chhin jaaye
mamtaa ke sunahare Kh(w)aaboN kii anmol nishaani biktii hai
us shaam mujhe ma’aloom huaa, jab bhaaii jaNg meiN kaam aaye
sarmaaye ke qahvaaKhaane meiN, bahnoN ki javaani biktii hai

sooraj ke lahoo meiN lithRii huii, vo shaam hai ab tak yaad mujhe
chaahat ke sunahare Kh(w)aaboN kaa anjaam hai ab tak yaad mujhe

tum aaj hazaaroN meel yahaaN se door kahiiN tanhaaii meiN
ya bazm-e-tarab-aaraaii meiN
mere sapne buntii hogi, baiThii aaGhosh paraayii meiN
aur maiN seene meiN GHam le kar, din raat mashaqqat kartaa houN
jeene kii Khaatir martaa houN
apne fan ko rusvaa karke, aGhiyaaN kaa daaman bhartaa houN

majboor huuN maiN, majboor ho tum, majboor ye duniyaa saarii hai
tan ka dukh man par bhaarii hai
is daur meiN jeene kii qeemat yaa daar-o-rasan yaa Kh(w)aarii hai

maiN daar-o-rasan tak jaa na sakaa, tum jahad ki had tak aa na sakiiN
chaahaa to magar apnaa na sakiiN
ham-tum do aisii rooheiN haiN, jo manzil-e-taskiiN paa na sakiiN

jeene ko jiye jaate haiN magar, saaNsoN meiN chitaayeiN jaltii haiN
Khamosh wafaayeiN jaltii haiN
saNgeen haqaayaq-zaaroN meiN, Kh(w)aaboN ki ridaayeiN jaltii haiN

aur aaj in peRoN ke neeche, phir do saaye lahraaye haiN
phir do dil milne aaye haiN
phir maut kii aaNdhii uThThii hai, phir jaNg ke baadal chhaaye haiN

maiN soch rahaa houN inkaa bhii, apnii hi tarah anjaam na ho
inkaa bhii junooN badnaam na ho
inke bhii muqaddar meiN likhii, ik Khoon se lithRii shaam na ho!

sooraj ke lahoo meiN lithRii huii, vo shaam hai ab tak yaad mujhe
chaahat ke sunahare Kh(w)aaboN kaa anjaam hai ab tak yaad mujhe

hamaaraa pyaar havaadis kii taab la na sakaa
magar inheiN to muraadoN kii raat mil jaaye
hameiN to kash-ma-kash-e-marg-e-be-amaaN hi milii
inheiN to jhoomtii gaatii hayaat mil jaaye

bahut dinoN se hai ye mashGhalaa siyaasat kaa
k jab javaan hoN bachche to qatl ho jaayeiN
bahut dinoN se hai ye Khabt hukmraanoN kaa
k door door ke mulkoN meiN qahat bo jaaye

bahut dinoN se javaanii ke kh(w)aab veeraaN haiN
bahut dinoN se muhabbat panaah DhooNDhatii hai
bahut dinoN se sitam-deedah shaahraahoN meiN
nigaar-e-zeest kii ismat panaah DhooNDhatii hai

chalo k aaj sabhii paay-maal roohoN se
kaheiN k apne har ik zaKhm ko zabaaN kar leiN

hamaaraa raaz hamaaraa nahiiN sabhii kaa hai
chalo k saare zamaane ko raazdaaN kar leiN

chalo k chal ke siyaasii muqaamiroN se kaheiN
k hamko jang-o-jadal ke chalan se nafrat hai

jise lahoo ke sivaa koi raNg na raas aaye
hameiN hayaat ke us pairahan se nafrat hai

kaho k ab koii qaatil agar idhar aayaa
to har qadam pe zameeN taNg hotii jaayegi

har ek mauj-e-havaa ruKh badal ke jhapTegii
har ek shaaKh rag-e-saNg hotii jaayegii

uTho k aaj har ik jaNgjoo se ye kah deiN
k hamko kaam kii Khaatir kaloN kii haajat hai

hameiN kisii kii zameeN chheen_ne kaa shauq nahiiN
hameiN to apnii zameeN par haloN kii haajat hai

kaho k ab koii taajir idhar ka ruKh na kare
ab is jaa koii kuNvaarii na bechi jaayegii

ye khet jaag paRe, uTh khaRii huiiN fasleiN
ab is jagah koii kyaarii na bechii jaayegi

ye sarzameeN hai Gautam kii aur Naanak kii
is arz-e-paak pe wahshii na chal sakeiNge kabhii
hamaaraa khoon amaanat hai nasl-e-nau ke liye
hamaare khoon pe lashkar na pal sakeiNge kabhii

kaho ki aaj bhii ham sab agar Khamosh rahe
to is damakte hue KhaakadaaN kii Khair nahiiN
junooN kii Dhaalii huii “atomii” balaaoN se
zameeN kii Khair nahiiN, aasmaaN kii Khair nahiiN

guzishtaa jaNg meiN ghar hi jale magar is baar
ajab nahiiN k ye tanhaaiyaaN bhii jal jaayeiN
guzishtaa jaNg meiN paikar jale magar is baar
ajab nahiiN k ye parchhaiyaaN bhii jal jaayeiN

tasavvuraat kii parchhaiyaaN ubhartii haiN!

Glossary:

khwaab-e-marmariiN = silky (or beautiful) dream
jism-e-naazniiN = the body of a delicate girl
fazaa = environment
ufaq = horizon
Khatuut = lines
tasavvuraat = imaginations
gumaan = doubt
yaqeeN = certainty
panaah = refuge
saakit = quiet
ameeN = witness
kashaakash = struggle, dillema
kaavish = efforts
ibtadaa = beginnings
laraztii = trembling
huzuur-e-Ghaib = in the service of God
jumbish = movement
Khauf = fear
massarrat = happiness
zabaan = tongue
Khushk = dry
gudaaz = soft
adaa-e-ajz-o-karam = in a kind and soft manner
dilkash = lovely
shaadaab = lively, (in hindi - hari bhari)
jazeera = island
mauj-e-nafas = wave of breath
mauj-e-sabaa = wave of wind
zakheera = treasures, stores
naagah = suddenly
TaapoN = Stomping sounds made by the horses
taameer = structures, constructions
taKhreeb = destructions, devastation
wahshat = barbarism
maGhrib = the west
muhazzab = civilized .. polite
mulkoN = countries
maGhroor = arrogant
khemoN = tents
booToN = boots
qabaayeiN = dresses
ajnaas = plural of jins - goods, species, commodities
bhaao = costs
dafaatar = plural of daftar - offices
Ghairat = honour
barnaaii = youth
KhaliyaanoN = granaries
ruuposh = concealed, hidden
janjaal = tanglements, embarrassments, troubles
iflaas-zadaa = struck by poverty
dahqaan = farmers
tijaarat = trade, commerce
Khalwat = solitude
mamnoo’ = forbidden, prohibited
jalwat = in open, in public
jasaarat = boldness, courage
malaamat = blames, accusations
baar = weight
hawas-parast = lustful
cheerah-dasti = opressiveness, powerfulness
uriyaaniyaaN = nakedness
sitamgar = tyrant
siyaasi = political
qimaarKhaane = gambling houses
alam-naseeb faraasat = painful wisdom
mahaaz-e-jaNg = battle field
harkaaraa = courrier, messenger, running footman
narGha-e-dushman = enemy encirclment
gaam = step
takalluf = formalities
Khaloos = happiness
zameer = pride
Khoon-e-tamaannaa-e-dil = the blood from hearts desires
dosheezaaoN = young girls
kaargah-e-zardaarii = this factory of richness, wealth
qahvaaKhaane = brothel
bazm-e-tarab-aaraaii = a gathering of joy and cheerfulness
mashaqqat = labour
aGhiyaar = strangers, others
daar-o-rasan = gallows
Kh(w)aari = shame
jahad (correct pronounciation = jahd) = struggle
manzil-e-taskiiN = the goal of peacefullness, soothing
saNgeen = tough, serious
haqaayak-zaaroN = realities
ridaayeiN = covers
hawaadis = accidents
taab = courage, fury, heat
kash-ma-kash-e-marg-e-be-amaaN = struggles of continuing death
hayaat = life
mashGhala =hobby
Khabt = lunacy
hukm-raanoN = those in power
qahat = death, famine, drought
sitam-deedah-shaahraahoN = the royal paths drowned in tyranny
nigaar-e-zeest = the beauty of life
ismat = chastity, honour, protection
paay-maal = crushed
muqaamiroN = gamblers
jadal = battle
pairaahan = dress
mauj-e-hawaa = waves of wind
rag-e-saNg = veins of rock
jaNgjoo = war monger
haajat = need
taajir = businessman
jaa = place
arz-e-paak = sacred earth
nasl-e-nau = new blood, new generation
lashkar = army, encampments
KhaakdaaN = world
guzishtaa = previous
paikar = bodies