ishq mein wasl ki tadbir batane wala
kaun tha zahr ko iksir batane wala

hoga na-waqif-e-adab-e-mohabbat koi
halqa-e-zulf ko zanjir batane wala

aaina dekh ke samjha hun ki sach kahta tha
wo mujhe aap ki taswir batane wala

mushaf-e-rukh ki bhi tafsir batata jae
lafz-e-quran ki tafsir batane wala

main hi yusuf tha zulekha ke qafas mein kal shab
hai koi khwab ki tabir batane wala

wo jo kahta tha mere hath ki rekha mein hai tu
kitna jhuta tha wo taqdir batane wala

lai hai maut ko ab samne taqdir meri
ab batae koi tadbir batane wala

wo bhi hoga koi majruh yaqinan yaro
abru-e-naz ko shamshir batane wala

'ehtisham' itne bade shahr mein koi na mila
is nazar mein teri tauqir batane wala