apni tabi’aton mein na ghussa na taw tha
be-iltifatiyon ke sabab ye subhaw tha

aa'sab mein tanaw dilon mein khinchaw tha
mauzu'-e-guftugu yahi bazar bhaw tha

apna wajud bhi koi kaghaz ki naw tha
bahta chala gaya hai jahan tak bahaw tha

sada the aise hum ki samajh hi nahin sake
baaton mein kaisa pher tha kaisa ghumaw tha

galiyan wahin hain shahr wahi raste wahi
wo log hi nahin rahe jin se lagaw tha

apne liye sune hue qisson mein tha maza
ahbab ke khulus mein aisa dabaw tha

dushman bhi dushmanon ki tarah mil nahin saka
apne mizaj mein bhi bada rakh-rakhaw tha

majbur yun hue ki hamein yaad hi nahin
mailan kis taraf tha kidhar ko jhukaw tha

tarikh likhne walon se 'iqbaal' puchhiye
apne watan mein pahle bhi kya bhed-bhaw tha