chaman itna khizan-asar pahle kab hua tha
bala ka qaht-e-barg-o-bar pahle kab hua tha

hawadis aur main bachpan se go lad-bhid rahe the
hawadis ka ye gahra war pahle kab hua tha

main jin galiyon mein paiham barsar-e-gardish raha hun
main un galiyon mein itna khar pahle kab hua tha

main bimar-e-mohabbat yun to pahle bhi raha hun
magar is zor ka bimar pahle kab hua tha

sada na na ki yun to gosh-zad hoti rahi hai
lab-e-lalin se saf inkar pahle kab hua tha

tera lahja tha jaanan shir o shabnam se ibarat
tera lahja abhi talwar pahle kab hua tha

salib-o-dar pahle bhi bahut wafir nahin the
magar qaht-e-salib-o-dar pahle kab hua tha

miyan-'tahsin' teri rindi ki sun-gun thi hamein bhi
magar aisa khula iqrar pahle kab hua tha