kho gae yun kar-khane ya kisi daftar mein hum
chhuttiyon mein ajnabi lagte hain apne ghar mein hum

fasle se dekhne wala hamein samjhega kya
pyas ka sahra hain dariyaon ke pas-manzar mein hum

raat ko sone se pahle kya karen us ka hisab
kitne sayon ka taaqub kar sake din-bhar mein hum

bas hamin hum hain jahan tak kaam karti hai nigah
ek zarra hain magar phaile hain bahr-o-bar mein hum

mukhtalif khakon mein chhinton ki tarah taqsim hain
kya ubhar kar samne aaen kisi manzar mein hum

dusri jaanib andhera hai to kis ummid par
jagti aankhon ko rakh aae shigaf-e-dar mein hum

hai ye majburi ki aanch aati hai chaaron samt se
warna socha tha jiyenge mom ke paikar mein hum

hath jis shai ki taraf lapke wo ghaeb ho gai
phans gae 'mahir' ye kis aaseb ke chakkar mein hum