harf raushan the numayan dard ki tahrir thi
us ka chehra tha ki mere karb ki tafsir thi

kuchh meri aankhon mein bhi tha dubte rangon ka aks
us ghadi wo mohni surat bhi kuchh dil-gir thi

an-ginat hisson mein yun taqsim ho kar rah gai
zindagi jaise mere ajdad ki jagir thi

hath phailae khadi thi jo bhare bazar mein
wo mere iflas ki munh bolti taswir thi

dekhti thi aane wali subh-e-nau ka rasta
muntazir zindan-e-shab mein dukhtar-e-kashmir thi

pujti thi har nai surat ko aawara nazar
garche paon mein muqaddas ahd ki zanjir thi

ek parinda par-shikasta aur suna rasta
kis qadar sachchi mere haalat ki taswir thi