bais-e-arz-e-hunar karb-e-nihani nikla
lafz hi mamba-e-dariya-e-maani nikla

sab ke honton ko chhua abr-e-rawan ne lekin
mere hisse ka na dariyaon mein pani nikla

kaun hota hai sharik-e-safar-e-tanhai
mera saya hi mera dushman-e-jaani nikla

zindagi jis ke tasawwur mein basar ki hum ne
hae wo shakhs haqiqat mein kahani nikla

jis ke sine mein bhi 'shadab' utar kar dekha
takhta-e-mashq-e-sitam hae girani nikla