khalish-e-zakhm-e-tamanna ka mudawa bhi na tha
main ne wo chaha jo taqdir mein likkha bhi na tha

itna yaad aaega ek roz ye socha bhi na tha
hae wo shakhs ki jis se koi rishta bhi na tha

kyon use dekh ke badhti thi meri tishna-labi
abr-para bhi na tha wo koi dariya bhi na tha

dil wo sahra ki jahan udti thi haalat ki gard
gham wo baadal jo kabhi khul ke barasta bhi na tha

tu ne kyon jagte rahne ki saza di mujh ko
tere bare mein koi khwab to dekha bhi na tha

ho gae log ye kyon mere lahu ke pyase
main ne to aankh utha kar use dekha bhi na tha

kuchh jhijakti hui nazren bhi thin mahw-e-gul-gasht
main chaman-zar-e-tasawwur mein akela bhi na tha

baz raaton mein ye manzar bhi nazar se guzra
shama bhi jalti rahi ghar mein ujala bhi na tha

kabhi ban jaegi yun yaad teri juzw-e-hayat
main ne is rukh se tere bab mein socha bhi na tha

aasman aur zamin hadd-e-nazar tak the muhit
hum kahan jate nikal kar koi rasta bhi na tha

kuchh umiden thin umangen thin tamannaen thin
dil teri rah mein nikla to akela bhi na tha

umr bhar karte rahe ghar ki tamanna 'tahir'
aur taqdir mein diwar ka saya bhi na tha