khak mein milna tha aakhir be-nishan hona hi tha
jalne wale ke muqaddar mein dhuan hona hi tha

hum na kahte the ki dide phut jaenge tere
raat din rone se aankhon ka ziyan hona hi tha

harf-e-sakit ban gaya taqtia se kharij hua
is ghazal ki bazm se mujh ko nihan hona hi tha

kya hua jo bhul baithe hain sabhi qari mujhe
ek na ek din mujh ko bhuli dastan hona hi tha

dhaar par chalna tha mujh ko kudna tha aag mein
zindagi mein ek din ye imtihan hona hi tha

rui ban kar ud gae parbat zamin hai zer-e-ab
ye karishma bhi to zer-e-asman hona hi tha

sabr kar 'hasrat' na ro ujde chaman ko dekh kar
didani manzar ko aankhon se nihan hona hi tha