kabhi main aalam-e-imkan se guzar jata hun
aur kabhi jism ki daldal mein utar jata hun

ye bhara shahr kabhi mujh mein simat aata hai
kabhi main shahr mein har-gam bikhar jata hun

shahr se rahti hai ek jang musalsal din-bhar
shahr jab hanpne lagta hai to ghar jata hun

is kashakash mein hi milta hai nishan hone ka
jab bhi takmil ka ehsas ho mar jata hun

le udi raushni hi jurat-e-binai meri
ab to main din ke ujale se bhi dar jata hun

apne zarre hi nazar aate hain ta-hadd-e-nazar
ek zara sar ko jhukaun to bikhar jata hun

ek ek aankh mein apni hi kahani dekhun
apna chehra nazar aata hai jidhar jata hun

shahr sajte hain guzar-gahen chamak uthti hain
apne hi khun mein dubun to sanwar jata hun

'sham' khulta hi nahin maut ka hangam hai kya
waqt ruk jata hai ya main hi thahar jata hun