gham kahin samt-e-safar thi rahbar koi na tha
ek sahra-e-alam tha ham-safar koi na tha

us ko bhi hum ne yahi samjha tamasha hai koi
jab khulin aankhen nishan-e-sang-e-dar koi na tha

waqt hum ko thokaron par thokaren deta raha
aur apne hath mein tir-o-tabar koi na tha

qarya-e-bedad-khwahan ki shikayat hai abas
shahr-e-ham-dardan mein bhi to chaaragar koi na tha

dhajjiyan udti rahin jaib-o-gareban ki mere
rok deta bazm mein aashufta-sar koi na tha

mere raazon mein na koi raaz baqi rah gaya
ham-nashinon mein mere na-mo'tabar koi na tha

is liye hum nargis-e-bimar ke qail hue
us ke jaisa bhi chaman mein dida-war koi na tha

dil ke zakhmon ko ata karna tha lafzon ka libas
aur 'azhar' maqsad-e-arz-e-hunar koi na tha