log tanhai ka kis darja gila karte hain
aur fankar to tanha hi raha karte hain

wo tabassum hai ki 'ghaalib' ki tarah-dar ghazal
der tak us ki balaghat ko padha karte hain

koi jadu koi jalwa koi masti koi mauj
hum inhin chand sahaaron pe jiya karte hain

din pe yaron ko andhere ka guman hota hai
hum andhere mein kiran dhundh liya karte hain

bastiyan kuchh huin viran to matam kaisa
kuchh kharabe bhi to aabaad hua karte hain

sunne walon ki hai taufiq sunen ya na sunen
baat kahne ki jo hai hum to kaha karte hain

sahil o bahr ke aain salamat na rahe
ab to sahil se bhi tufan utha karte hain

log baaton mein baha dete hain is daur ka dard
aur ashaar mein hum dhaal liya karte hain