kis tarah be-mauj aur khali rawani se hua
be-khabar dariya kahan par apne pani se hua

badh rahi thi ek basti se meri beganagi
masala mera na hal naql-e-makani se hua

apne hone ka mujhe khud hi diya us ne subut
aashna us se usi ki ek nishani se hua

kah raha tha wo ki kaise kat rahe the us ke din
main girafta-dil bahut us ki kahani se hua

ek jagah ki saf aur taza hawa achchhi lagi
kuchh ilaj-e-dil wahan ke sada pani se hua

kis qadar gham-khwar tha wo shahr aur hamdard log
is ka kuchh andaza apni raegani se hua

rut badal jaane se pila pad gaya farsh-e-chaman
zard pedon ka badan barg-e-khizani se hua

kar raha hun main zaban ko ek banawat se riha
lafz zinda phir meri sada-bayani se hua

mere us ke darmiyan jaise kabhi kuchh bhi na tha
aisa 'shahin' bas zara si bad-gumani se hua