aaj ek lahr bhi pani mein na thi
koi taswir rawani mein na thi

walwala misra-e-awwal mein na tha
harakat misra-e-sani mein na thi

koi aahang na alfaz mein tha
kaifiyat koi maani mein na thi

khun ka nam sada-nawai mein na tha
khun ki bu shokh-bayani mein na thi

koi mafhum tasawwur mein na tha
koi bhi baat kahani mein na thi

rang ab koi khalaon mein na tha
koi pahchan nishani mein na thi

khush-yaqini mein na tha ab koi nur
zau koi khanda-gumani mein na thi

ji sulagne ka dhuan khat mein na tha
raushni harf-e-zabani mein na thi

ranj bhule hue wade ka na tha
lazzat ab yaad-dahani mein na thi

lo ki jamid si ghazal bhi likh di
aaj kuchh zindagi 'bani' mein na thi