dast-o-pa mein mere halqe jo ye zanjir ke hain
dar-haqiqat ye karishme meri taqdir ke hain

qabil-e-dad nahin kya wo musawwir logo
shahr-dar-shahr jo charche kisi taswir ke hain

tishna-lab jo lab-e-dariya pe bhi hain rahte hue
wo satae hue bigdi hui taqdir ke hain

hausla fath ka zamin hua karta hai magar
mere dushman hain ki qail meri shamshir ke hain

ghair danista nahin hain mere afsane mein
wo kai lafz jo tishna meri tafsir ke hain

khush agar apni khataon pe ho tum to hum bhi
manne wale abhi ishq ki tasir ke hain

us ne saunpi thi jo beton ko wirasat mein kabhi
aaj afsun ki tukde usi jagir ke hai

ye sitare nahin 'talib' ki ye tute hue khwab
kisi laila kisi shirin ke kisi hir ke hain