wo jis ka intizar tha
shafaq ko

baadalon ko
rahguzar ko aabshaar ko

khizan ki pattiyon ko
chandni ko

dhup ko bahaar ko
wo jis ki aarzu thi

saaton ko
khamushi ko

zehn ko khayal ko
tasawwur-e-muhaal ko

khanakti pyaliyon ko
kursiyon ko

jam-e-mai ko sham-e-na-tamam ko
dopahar ko sham ko

wo jis ki aahaten
samaaton ke kunj mein nihan thin

jis ka aks
jalwa-rez tha

basaraton ki jhil mein
wo kya faqat saba ka surmagin khiram tha

ki shakh-e-gul ka saya-e-khafif tha
ki mauj-e-ab par kiran ka irtiash tha

jo ek pal mein samne se yun guzar gaya
ki wo sabhi jo muntazir the

aankh milte rah gae
magar wo is tarah guzar gaya

ki yak-ba-yak
wo intizar ki bisat hi ulat gai

wo khel khatm ho gaya
aur us ke baad

aasman se zamin
zamin se aasman tak

khala khala khala khala