faqat mal-o-zar-e-diwar-o-dar achchha nahin lagta
jahan bachche nahin hote wo ghar achchha nahin lagta

mere dukh tak mere khun aur pasine ki kamai hain
tumhein kyun meri mehnat ka samar achchha nahin lagta

shikasta satr chahe rang-o-bu-e-pairahan thahre
kisi surat mujhe ijz-e-hunar achchha nahin lagta

mayassar ho na jab tak bu-e-taza-tar ki hamrahi
hawa ki tarah galiyon se guzar achchha nahin lagta

rah-e-tesha-talab teri main wo diwar hun jis ko
na ho shoridgi jis mein wo sar achchha nahin lagta

gali mein khelte bachchon ke hathon ka main patthar hun
mujhe is sahn ka khali shajar achchha nahin lagta

chamakta hun har ek mahtab-ru ke ru-e-raushan mein
main suraj hun mujhe shab ka safar achchha nahin lagta

jise dekhen wahi phir dekhne ki aarzu thahre
jise chahen wahi bar-e-digar achchha nahin lagta

isi khatir use 'tabish' uchakna chahta hun main
mujhe talab ki tah mein qamar achchha nahin lagta