hui takhir to kuchh bais-e-takhir bhi tha
aap aate the magar koi inan-gir bhi tha

tum se beja hai mujhe apni tabahi ka gila
us mein kuchh shaiba-e-khubi-e-taqdir bhi tha

tu mujhe bhul gaya ho to pata batla dun
kabhi fitrak mein tere koi nakhchir bhi tha

qaid mein hai tere wahshi ko wahi zulf ki yaad
han kuchh ek ranj-e-giran-bari-e-zanjir bhi tha

bijli ek kaund gai aankhon ke aage to kya
baat karte ki main lab-tishna-e-taqrir bhi tha

yusuf us ko kahun aur kuchh na kahe khair hui
gar bigad baithe to main laiq-e-tazir bhi tha

dekh kar ghair ko ho kyun na kaleja thanda
nala karta tha wale talib-e-tasir bhi tha

peshe mein aib nahin rakhiye na farhad ko nam
hum hi aashufta-saron mein wo jawan-mir bhi tha

hum the marne ko khade pas na aaya na sahi
aakhir us shokh ke tarkash mein koi tir bhi tha

pakde jate hain farishton ke likhe par na-haq
aadmi koi hamara dam-e-tahrir bhi tha

rekhte ke tumhin ustad nahin ho 'ghaalib'
kahte hain agle zamane mein koi 'mir' bhi tha