hawas o wafa ki siyasaton mein bhi kaamyab nahin raha
koi chehra aisa bhi chahiye jo pas-e-naqab nahin raha

teri aarzu se bhi kyun nahin gham-e-zindagi mein koi kami
ye sawal wo hai ki jis ka ab koi ek jawab nahin raha

thin samaaten sar hao-hu chhidi qissa-khanon ki guftugu
wahi jis ne bazm sajai thi wahi baryab nahin raha

kam o besh ek se pairahan kam o besh ek sa hai chalan
sar-e-rahguzar kisi wasf ka koi intikhab nahin raha

wo kitab-e-dil jise rabt tha tere kaif-e-hijr-o-visal se
wo kitab-e-dil to likhi gai magar intisab nahin raha

main har ek shab yahi band aankhon se puchhta hun sahar talak
ki ye nind kis liye ud gai agar ek khwab nahin raha

yahan raste bhi hain be-shajar hai munafiqat bhi yahan hunar
mujhe apne aap pe fakhr hai ki main kaamyab nahin raha

faqat ek lamhe mein munkashif hui sham-e-mausam-e-arzu
'sahar' us ke chehre ki samt jab gul-e-aftab nahin raha