kahin se bhi sukhan-e-mo'atabar nahin aata
nazar hamein koi ahl-e-nazar nahin aata

hawa-e-dasht ye tasir-e-khud-faramoshi
bahut dinon se tasawwur mein ghar nahin aata

ajab shanawar-e-bahr-e-wajud hain hum bhi
hamein zaman-o-makan ka safar nahin aata

lahu se lafz ki takhliq hum nahin karte
jabhi to apne bayan mein asar nahin aata

ye sochte hain ki manzil-rasi se kya hasil
jab apne sath koi ham-safar nahin aata

ye arsa-gah-e-talab qurbaton ki duniya hai
yahan hum aisa koi be-hunar nahin aata

dariche roz hi khulte hain band hote hain
magar wo chehra-e-rangin nazar nahin aata

hijab kaun sa mane hai kuchh nahin malum
main chahta hun wo aae magar nahin aata

tilism-e-tira-shabi 'lais' kis tarah tute
koi bhi le ke payam-e-sahr nahin aata