tanaben katne lagin meri khush-bayani ki
ki ab wo rut hi nahin teri mehrbani ki

dubo diya hai mujhe meri khush-yaqini ne
ye baat ghaur-talab hai meri kahani ki

khizan mein hijr ki duba visal ka mausam
magar hai zehn mein khushbu si raat rani ki

kabhi to aaega sahil teri rifaqat ka
abhi main baitha hun kashti mein bad-gumani ki

shagufta lahje mein wo mujh se bolta hi nahin
jahan mein dhum si hai jis ki khush-bayani ki

kali chatak uthi mahaul ho gaya gul-bez
jo baat aai kabhi us ki khush-bayani ki

gulab chehre umidon ke bujh gae 'mehdi'
na baat kijiye mausam ki mehrbani ki