kahkashan ko tod kar sare ke sare aa gae
chand ko main ne pukara tha sitare aa gae

sar-phire suraj ke marne ka tamasha dekhne
sham ke manzar bhi baalon ko sanware aa gae

yaad jab main ne kiya un ko bhare manjdhaar mein
khud-ba-khud kashti mein chal kar ye kinare aa gae

han yahi sach hai bichhadte waqt apni aankh mein
un ki galiyon ke liye rangin nazare aa gae

prem-dhan ki bansuri aisi bajai shyam ne
nafraton ke dewta bhi munh utare aa gae

mai-kashon ki bazm mein tha ranj-o-gham par tabsira
main ne di aawaz sab ulfat ke mare aa gae

hamd likhne ko qalam jab bhi uthai hai 'shikha'
lafz sare ba-adab banhen pasare aa gae