aisa lagta hai mukhalif hai khudai meri
koi karta hi nahin khul ke burai meri

mujh mein madfun bade shahr-e-maani the magar
dur tak kar na saka waqt khudai meri

be-sada shahr tha khamosh the galiyon ke makin
ek muddat mujhe aawaz na aai meri

khair-khwahi ka raha yun to sabhi ko dawa
chahta bhi to koi dil se bhalai meri

shab ki dahliz pe qazzaq zarurat to nahin
chhin leta hai jo din-bhar ki kamai meri

kuchh mere ilm ne bhi mujh ko fazilat bakhshi
fan se nisbat ne bhi tauqir badhai meri

mujh ko mujh tak hi na mahdud samajhna 'saifi'
la-makan se bhi pare tak hai rasai meri