Sher on Lucknow
Among the many cities
that have had a history and a culture of their own, Lucknow is a prominent one. It enjoys a respectable place in the cultural and literary history of India. Lucknow also represents a major school of Urdu poetry which is different from the Delhi school and is known for its special treatment of language. In this section, we bring together some verses on the city that highlight its distinct features.
kiyā tabāh to dillī ne bhī bahut 'bismil'
magar ḳhudā kī qasam lucknow ne luuT liyā
kiya tabah to dilli ne bhi bahut 'bismil'
magar KHuda ki qasam lucknow ne luT liya
dillī chhuTī thī pahle ab lucknow bhī chhoḌeñ
do shahar the ye apne donoñ tabāh nikle
dilli chhuTi thi pahle ab lucknow bhi chhoDen
do shahar the ye apne donon tabah nikle
kashish-e-lucknow are tauba
phir vahī ham vahī amīnābād
kashish-e-lucknow are tauba
phir wahi hum wahi aminabaad
yahī tashvīsh shab-o-roz hai bangāle meñ
lucknow phir kabhī dikhlā.e muqaddar merā
yahi tashwish shab-o-roz hai bangale mein
lucknow phir kabhi dikhlae muqaddar mera
shafaq se haiñ dar-o-dīvār zard shām-o-sahar
huā hai lucknow is rahguzar meñ pilibhit
shafaq se hain dar-o-diwar zard sham-o-sahar
hua hai lucknow is rahguzar mein pilibhit
zabān-e-hāl se ye lucknow kī ḳhaak kahtī hai
miTāyā gardish-e-aflāk ne jāh-o-hasham merā
zaban-e-haal se ye lucknow ki KHak kahti hai
miTaya gardish-e-aflak ne jah-o-hasham mera
turāb-e-pā-e-hasīnān-e-lakhna.ū hai ye
ye ḳhāksār hai 'aḳhtar' ko naqsh-e-pā kahiye
turab-e-pa-e-hasinan-e-lakhnau hai ye
ye KHaksar hai 'aKHtar' ko naqsh-e-pa kahiye
