aish-agah gham-shanas raha
ji kabhi khush kabhi udas raha

waqt ne anginat libas diye
phir bhi insan be-libas raha

us se puchho khushi ke ehsasat
muddaton jo ghamon ke pas raha

main wo sahra-e-be-sarab hun jo
apne hi lab ki ban ke pyas raha

qalb-e-nau mein ba-faiz-e-wahm-o-guman
har yaqin surat-e-qayas raha

hadson ke hujum mein pis kar
gham ka har lamha bad-hawas raha

qatl lamhon ka ho raha tha magar
waqt be-khauf-o-be-hiras raha

mera afsana-e-hayat 'ahmar'
ban ke har gham ka iqtibas raha