guzar chuki hai jo shab iztirab kaisa hai
ufuq pe hosh-ruba iltihab kaisa hai

wajudiyat ka ye rangin sarab kaisa hai
har ek chehre pe mubham naqab kaisa hai

rahenge marhale tazir ke jo mar kar bhi
ye zindagi ka musalsal azab kaisa hai

khuda hi jaane ki din mein tawil raat ke baad
hain shab-gazida jo sab ehtisab kaisa hai

wo haal puchhne aae to main khamosh raha
sawal khub tha lekin jawab kaisa hai

kitab lakh purani sahi magar is par
chhapa hai ab jo naya intisab kaisa hai

hai marifat ka safar aagahi se hairat tak
murajat ka jo ho irtikab kaisa hai

wita-e-kahkashan par zamin ke bare mein
jo bhigi aankhon ne dekha wo khwab kaisa hai

main jaanta hun magar tu bhi aaina le kar
mujhe bata ki mera intikhab kaisa hai