ajib baat hai din bhar ke ehtimam ke baad
charagh ek bhi raushan hua na sham ke baad

sunaun main kise rudad-e-shahr-e-na-pursan
ki ajnabi hun yahan muddaton qayam ke baad

khirad alil thi daur-e-sharab se pahle
qadam mein aai thi laghzish shikast-e-jam ke baad

sitam-zarifi-e-tarikh hai ki masnad-gir
sada khawas hue inqalab-e-am ke baad

habab soch ke kya ham-rikab-e-mauj hua
ki baith jaana tha jab ek aadh gam ke baad

rahe charagh dariche mein dar khula rakhna
musafir aan nikalte hain baz sham ke baad

kabhi kabhi to ho 'shaukat' shadid ye ehsas
ki hum tuyur qafas mein pade hain dam ke baad