mu-qalam, saz gul-e-taza thirakte panw
baat kahne ke bahane hain bahut
aadmi kis se magar baat kare?
baat jab hila-e-taqrib-e-mulaqat na ho
aur rasai ki hamesha se hai kotah-kamand
baat ki ghayat-e-ghayat na ho!
ek zarra kaf-e-khakistar ka
sharar-e-jasta ke manind kabhi
kisi an-jaani tamanna ki khalish se masrur
apne sine ke dahakte hue tannur ki lau se majbur
ek zarra ki hamesha se hai khud se mahjur
kabhi nairang-e-sada ban ke jhalak uthta hai
aab o rang o khat o mehrab ka paiwand kabhi
aur banta hai maani ka khudawand kabhi
wo khudawand jo pa-basta-e-anat na ho!
isi ek zarre ki tabani se
kisi soe hue raqqas ke dast-o-pa mein
kanp uthte hain mah-o-sal ke nile girdab
isi ek zarre ki hairani se
sher ban jate hain ek kuza-gar-e-pir ke khwab
isi ek zarra-e-la-fani se
khisht-e-be-maya ko milta hai dawam
baam-o-dar ko wo sahar jis ki kabhi raat na ho!
aadmi kis se magar baat kare?
mu-qalam, saz gul-e-taza thirakte panw
aadmi sochta rah jata hai,
is qadar bar kahan, kis ke liye, kaise uthaun
aur phir kis ke liye baat karun?