ek shagufta gulab jaisa tha
wo bahaaron ke khwab jaisa tha

padh liya hum ne harf harf use
us ka chehra kitab kaisa tha

dur se kuchh tha aur qarib se kuchh
har sahaara sarab jaisa tha

hum gharibon ke waste har roz
ek roz-e-hisab jaisa tha

kis qadar jald ud gaya yaro
waqt rang-e-shabab jaisa tha

kaise guzri hai umr kya kahiye
lamha lamha azab jaisa tha

zahr tha zindagi ke saghar mein
rang rang-e-sharab jaisa tha

kya zamana tha wo zamana bhi
har gunah jab sawab jaisa tha

kaun gardanta use qatil
wo to izzat-maab jaisa tha

be-hijabi ke bawajud bhi kuchh
is ke rukh par hijab jaisa tha

jab bhi chheda to ek fughan nikli
dil shikasta rabab jaisa tha

is ke rukh par nazar thahar na saki
wo 'hafiz' aaftab jaisa tha