hazaron aarzuen sath hain is par akeli hai
hamari ruh be-bujhi hui ab tak paheli hai

budhapa ho to ho us rabt mein kyun kar khalal aae
meri yas-o-tamanna bachpane se sath kheli hai

ajal bhi tal gai dekhi gai haalat na aankhon se
shab-e-gham mein musibat si musibat hum ne jheli hai

adam ka tha safar jab aur kuchh tosha na hath aaya
bahut si aarzu chalte chalate sath le li hai

zara dekho to un utre hue chehron ko phulon ke
maaz-allah jhonka hai khizan ka ya ki seli hai

kabhi jamne na deti be-khudi khatir pe naqsh un ka
ba-mushkil main ne ye taswir usi ayyar se li hai

hamari aur gulon ki ek hai nashw-o-numa lekin
wahan mutthi mein zar hai aur yahan khali hatheli hai

na puchho 'shad' virani ko dil ki kya bataun main
tamanna ja chuki hasrat gharib is mein akeli hai