khwab hi ke sath mere khwab ki tabir thi
shab ko zulfen hath mein thin subh ko zanjir thi

kashmakash mein is tarah guzri hai sari zindagi
umr bhar tadbir se uljhi hui taqdir thi

kya jhuka sakta koi meri jabin-e-shauq ko
is pe jab kanda tumhaare hath ki tahrir thi

aaj tak barham hain mujh se aaj tak ruthe hue
kah diya tha haal-e-dil itni meri taqsir thi

hadsat-e-zindagi ne hi sanwari zindagi
ye inayat aap ki thi ya meri taqdir thi

be-qarari khinch lai un ki bazm-e-naz se
warna un ke multafit hone mein kya takhir thi

thin tasawwur mein mere kaun-o-makan ki wusaten
markaz-e-zauq-e-nazar lekin teri taswir thi

dastan-e-gham zaban-e-haal se kar di bayan
kya hua hum par agar pabandi-e-taqrir thi

hum to paband-e-mohabbat hain 'shifa' ab kya karen
warna jo chaha hua ye aah mein tasir thi