asl haalat ka bayan zahir ke sanchon mein nahin
baat jo dil mein hai mere mere lafzon mein nahin

ek zamana tha ki ek duniya mere hamrah thi
aur ab dekhun to rasta bhi nigahon mein nahin

koi aaseb-e-bala hai shahr par chhaya hua
bu-e-adam-zad tak khali makanon mein nahin

rafta rafta sab hamari rah par aate gae
baat hai jo hum buron mein achchhe achchhon mein nahin

apne hi dam se charaghan hai wagarna 'aftab'
ek sitara bhi meri viran shamon mein nahin