mere qarib se guzra ek ajnabi ki tarah
wo kaj-ada jo mila bhi to zindagi ki tarah

mila na tha to guman us pe tha farishton ka
jo ab mila hai to lagta hai aadmi ki tarah

kiran kiran utar aai hai rauzan-e-dil se
kisi hasin ki tamanna bhi raushni ki tarah

meri nigah se dekho to ham-zaban ho jao
ki dushmani bhi kisi ki hai dosti ki tarah

na milne wale kinaron ka nam thahra shauq
gurez-pa hai jahan husn ek nadi ki tarah

na khul saka to lahu ho ke bah gaya hai dil
kabhi khila to mahak uthega kali ki tarah

hazar sher hain aur ek khamushi ki ada
hazar rang hain aur ek sadgi ki tarah

bahut dinon mein mile hain hum aaj 'ishqi' se
nahin wo phir bhi koi shakhs hai usi ki tarah