khadi hai raat andheron ka azhdaham lagae
aur ek raushni baithi hai apna kaam lagae

ye kam nahin ki kharida usi pari ne hamein
agarche us ne bahut kam hamare dam lagae

main aaftab-zada hun kahan hai zulf us ki
ki aae aur meri aankhon pe apni sham lagae

main aaya kaam kiya apna aur chal bhi diya
zamana baitha raha apna tam-jham lagae

na jaane kitne zamanon ki muntazir aankhen
rah-e-umid pe baithi hui hain jam lagae

chaman mein us ne lagae hamare nam ke phul
to hum ne safha-e-hasti pe us ke nam lagae

magar main chhut gaya mere zor-e-dasht ki khair
tamam shahr raha qufl-e-intizam lagae

hamari bari ab aani hai kuza-gar se kaho
ki rang shokh kare khub khak kham lagae

mulazmat jo mili daftar-e-fana mein mili
phire the hum jo bahut arzi-e-dawam lagae

bana hai shahr ka sarmaya-kar yun 'ehsas'
ki ek halal lagane mein sau haram lagae