hath kyun thakne lage hain qatilon se puchhna
ke bhi kyun bolti hain gardanon se puchhna

tum ne to bas haal hi puchha tha mujh bimar ka
aa gae hain kyun umand kar aansuon se puchhna

jujhte rahne ka hai sailab se mafhum kya
kashtiyon ko khene wale manjhiyon se puchhna

bhuke bachche ke liye kya shai hai mamta ki tadap
dudh se mahrum man ki chhatiyon se puchhna

dhup mein patjhad ki un ka ped se rishta hai kya
sukhe danthal jin ke hain un pattiyon se puchhna

gunjti hai ek akele hans ki aawaz kyun
kal mile the jin pe hum in sahilon se puchhna

yaad hai ab tak mujhe 'athar' ki mera bar bar
un ke naqsh-e-pa kahan hain raston se puchhna