gham-qirtas pe apne karb ki baaten likhte rahna
hijr-kitab ko padhte rahna sharhen likhte rahna

phir yun hoga ek gum-gashta chehra samne hoga
khwabon ki diwar banana aanhken likhte rahna

itna karna apni soch ki aan na bikne deta
din ki din hi aur raaton ko raaten likhte rahna

aisa waqt na aane dena sukhen soch-samundar
lahron se aawaz milana maujen likhte rahna

bahar ke is shor mein teri baaten dab jaen to
andar se jo aati hain aawazen likhte rahna

'tahir'! un be-bas lamhon ka ahd nibhana hoga
us ne kaha tha khat mat likhna ghazlen likhte rahna