apni ghazal ke tair-e-khun-nab ke liye
kuchh zakhm le ke aaya hun ahbab ke liye

phir yun hua ki dagh hi hathon mein rah gae
rasta bana raha tha main mahtab ke liye

muddat se phir raha hun main bazar-e-shauq mein
ek lafz ki talash hai aadab ke liye

khushbu shabab husn ye dhoka hi ek sahi
kuchh to bahana chahiye zahrab ke liye

itni to aag dil mein hi jalti hai raat-din
jis darja aag chahiye zar-nab ke liye

insaniyat ke nam bhi kuchh kar ke dekhiye
har kaam lazmi nahin surkhab ke liye

'khalid' hara-bhara wo rahe bhi to kis liye
har phul jis shajar ka ho girdab ke liye