lab pe aaya hi na tha harf-e-tamanna koi
ab ke karta bhi to kya karta mudawa koi

zindagi tere taghayyur ki taraf dhyan gaya
jab hawaon mein uchhaala gaya sikka koi

chaaragar koi na hamdard na mukhlis na rafiq
shahr-e-be-mehr mein kis waste aaya koi

gardish-e-waqt ko samjhae bhala kaun ye baat
roz chaukhat pe take hai mera rasta koi

aaine khud chale aate hain muqabil mere
shan mein padhta hai jab mere qasida koi

daulat-e-ijz nai rut mein na dhundo ki yahan
ya to banta hai ya karta hai tamasha koi

ab ke 'afaq' meri aankhon mein aansu bhi na the
garm mitti pe tadapta raha pyasa koi