shayan-e-zindagi na the hum mo'atabar na the
han kam-nazar the itne magar kam-nazar na the

ab ke baras jo phul khila kaghzi hi tha
ab ke to dur dur kahin barg-e-tar na the

har phul ek zakhm tha har shakh ek lash
goya ki rah mein thin saliben shajar na the

baadal uthe to ret ke zarre baras pade
hum ko bhigo gae hain wo daman jo tar na the

kahte the ek ju-e-rawan hai chaman chaman
dekha to bastiyon ke kinare bhi tar na the

takra ke sar ko apna lahu aap chatte
achchha hua ki dasht mein diwar-o-dar na the

dariya ka sina chir ke ubhre jo sath par
daman mein sang-reze the 'akhtar' guhar na the