bhul kar pahlu-e-ummid main aaya na gaya
jo pata hum ko bataya tha wo paya na gaya

qalam-andaz-e-fana hun meri waqat dekho
main hun wo harf-e-mukarrar jo mitaya na gaya

is takalluf pe kahan lutf ham-aghoshi ka
aap se pahlu-e-taswir mein aaya na gaya

wo ada aur thi ye aur hai phir aur sahi
be-niyazi se koi rang jamaya na gaya

is rukawat mein bhi nairang-e-dil-awezi hai
ruth jaane ki hai khubi ki manaya na gaya

de diya taq se aaina utha kar un ko
haal mujh se dil-e-hairan ka dikhaya na gaya

waraq-e-hashr lagaya hai adam ke pichhe
jab mera haal khamoshi se jataya na gaya

rabt-o-be-rabti-e-anfas se kuchh bhi na hua
ye ghubar-e-gham-e-dil tha ki udaya na gaya

bekasi-ha-e-tamanna se haya aane lagi
teri taswir ko sine se lagaya na gaya

dekhna charkh-e-jafa-kar ki majburi ko
is tarah hum ko giraya ki uthaya na gaya

ai 'wafa' aarzu-e-marg ne ji chhod diya
dast-e-ahbab se ab zahr bhi khaya na gaya