ek harf-e-arzu pe khata-kar hum hue
itni si baat thi ki gunahgar hum hue

ek din kisi ke khwab mein soe tamam raat
ek din kisi ki aankh se bedar hum hue

pahle to na-samajh the zamane ki aankh mein
phir hote hote kitne samajhdar hum hue

is daur-e-be-hunar mein hamein kaun puchhta
wo to kaho ki apne kharidar hum hue

pahle-pahal to aql se uktae kuchh bahut
phir yun hua ki dil se bhi bezar hum hue

muddat ke baad khud se mohabbat hui hamein
muddat ke baad apne talabgar hum hue

tere liye kisi ke mukhalif rahe the hum
tere liye kisi ke taraf-dar hum hue

chahat ki dastan bhi rahi hum se munsalik
dil ki kahaniyon ke bhi kirdar hum hue

hona to chahte the bahar-taur aap sa
aap aise bad-lihaz kahan yar hum hue

pal pal badalte thor thikanon ke shauq mein
is par hum hue kabhi us par hum hue

badle hain mausamon ki tarah hum bhi ai 'rafia'
iqrar hum hue kabhi inkar hum hue