aarzu thi to iztirab bhi tha
nind gahri thi aur khwab bhi tha

ek bagula tha ret ka pichhe
dasht mein samne sarab bhi tha

meri qismat ke sard hathon mein
mere hisse ka kuchh azab bhi tha

ham-safar is safar mein tu hi bata
kya sawalon ka kuchh jawab bhi tha

bazm mein lut rahe the mina-o-jam
aur aadat ka wo kharab bhi tha

sari duniya ka intikhab tha wo
aur wo mera intikhab bhi tha

tha kabhi waqt jab hamara dil
ek mahakta hua gulab bhi tha

khoi khoi si us ki aankhon mein
mujh ko pane ka ek khwab bhi tha

zindagi thi khuli kitab meri
aur wo sahib-e-kitab bhi tha