chhod kar behaal mujh ko apne begane gae
gardish-e-ayyam mein sab log pahchane gae

jaane kis ki bad-nazar ne hashr barpa kar diya
munis-o-gham-khwar sab dushman mein gardane gae

koi bhi tadbir apni kaam ab aati nahin
meri aql-o-faham ke mashhur afsane gae

bhuk aur iflas ki suli chadha kar qaum ko
rahnuma-e-waqt ab parcham ko lahrane gae

khinch kar aksar gareban zarf ne roka hamein
jab kisi kamzor par hum zor dikhlane gae

hosh walo ko khirad-mandi ne buzdil kar diya
aur mushkil markon par sirf diwane gae

kis mein dekhun aks sachchai ka ab main kya karun
aaine bhi jhut ke zumre mein gardane gae

mil gaya 'maqsud' mujh ko ho gai taza ghazal
fikr ke parde mein jab alfaz lahrane gae