hum ek umr jale sham-e-rahguzar ki tarah
ujala ghairon se kya mangte qamar ki tarah

kahan ke jaib-o-gareban jigar bhi chaak hue
bahaar aai qayamat ke nama-bar ki tarah

karam kaho ki sitam dil-dahi ka har andaz
utar utar sa gaya dil mein neshtar ki tarah

na hadson ki kami hai na shorishon ki kami
chaman mein barq bhi palti hai baal-o-par ki tarah

na-jaane kyun yahan viraniyan barasti hain
sabhi ke ghar hain ba-zahir hamare ghar ki tarah

khuda kare ki sada karobar-e-shauq chale
jo be-niyaz ho manzil se is safar ki tarah

bas aur kya kahen rudad-e-zindagi 'taban'
chaman mein hum bhi hain ek shakh-e-be-samar ki tarah