bala-kashon pe kahan pyas ka azab na tha
wahan pe mana tha pani jahan sarab na tha

shikast-e-khwab ka matam tha chaar su lekin
tamam shahr ki aankhon mein koi khwab na tha

na aastinon pe milta na khak-e-maqtal par
khuda ka shukr hamara lahu sharab na tha

idhar gunah udhar hasrat-e-gunah ka bojh
fishaar-e-qabr ki tamsil tha shabab na tha

bika tha zehn o dil o jaan samet mandi mein
alag zamir ke kya dam the hisab na tha

ba-tarz-e-khas thi maqsud mujh ko shohrat-e-am
labon pe tha mere sine mein inqalab na tha

zamana-saz tha 'qaisi' na zar-shanas magar
aziz kaise tha jo shakhs kaamyab na tha