main shakh se uda tha sitaron ki aas mein
murjha ke aa gira hun magar sard ghas mein

socho to silwaton se bhari hai tamam ruh
dekho to ek shikan bhi nahin hai libas mein

sahra ki bud-o-bash hai achchhi na kyun lage
sukhi hui gulab ki tahni gilas mein

chamke nahin nazar mein abhi naqsh dur ke
masruf hun abhi amal-e-inikas mein

dhoke se us hasin ko agar chum bhi liya
paoge dil ka zahar labon ki mithas mein

tara koi rida-e-shab-e-abr mein na tha
baitha tha main udas bayaban-e-yas mein

ju-e-rawan-e-dasht abhi sukhna nahin
sawan hai dur aur wahi shiddat hai pyas mein

rahta tha samne tera chehra khula hua
padhta tha main kitab yahi har class mein

kanton ki bad phand gaya tha magar 'shakeb'
rasta na mil saka mujhe phulon ki bas mein