ghir gaya hun be-tarah main khwahishon ke darmiyan
jism ke reze udati aandhiyon ke darmiyan

kitne chehre kitni shaklen phir bhi tanhai wahi
kaun le aaya mujhe in aainon ke darmiyan

hum kahan yaro kahan wo mauja-e-baad-e-nasim
waqt ki pahnaiyan hail dilon ke darmiyan

dil pe guzri jo wo guzri shahr kyun viran hue
ek dahshat si hai phaili raston ke darmiyan

muddaa pinhan pas-e-alfaz hai jo padh sako
kuchh nahin paoge tum in surkhiyon ke darmiyan

jaise khushbu shahr mein sahra mein jaise chandni
yun bikhar jata hun mein tanhaiyon ke darmiyan

jis ki khatir sher likhte ho kabhi padhti bhi hai
kab talak uljhe rahoge qafiyon ke darmiyan

'sham'-ji bikhre kabhi is dil ke aangan mein mahak
zindagi guzregi kab tak aahaton ke darmiyan