aarzu ek nadi ho jaise
zindagi tishna-labi ho jaise

ye jawani teri chahat ke baghair
mahz ek jam-e-tahi ho jaise

kal hi bichhde the magar lagta hai
ek sadi bit gai ho jaise

umr-bhar qarz chukaya is ka
zist banne ki bahi ho jaise

fasl chandi ki ugana sar par
waqt ki jadugari ho jaise

zulm sah kar bhi hai khilqat khamosh
mohr honton pe lagi ho jaise

har taraf maut ka sannata hai
shahr par sadh sati ho jaise

yun hai ek mod par hairan si hayat
rasta bhul gai ho jaise

padh ke tarikh ko yun lagta hai
ye mazalim ki sada ho jaise

rakh ka dher hai ab hasrat-e-dil
ek dulhan jal ke mari ho jaise

sher kahta hun saliqe se 'shabab'
ye bhi aaina-gari ho jaise