main khal-o-khad ka sarapa tasawwuraat mein tha
damakti zat ka suraj andheri raat mein tha

wo waqt ab bhi nigahon mein jagmagata hai
ye kaenat thi mujh mein main kaenat mein tha

main shahr shahr ki hairaniyon se guzra hun
mera wajud bhi shayad ajaibaat mein tha

ana ke dasht mein sadiyon ki dhul odhe hue
na jaane kab se wo uljha tassubaat mein tha

tamam shor-sharaba nafas nafas mein liye
wo dubta hua ehsas shab-baraat mein tha

ye subh-o-sham mulaqat hai ajiran si
kabhi-kabhaar ka milna tabarrukat mein tha

'hayat' dhund raha hun wo lucknow ki jahan
sharafaton ka asasa takallufat mein tha