main apne-ap se ghafil na yun hua hota
mere bhi pas agar koi aaina hota

zara to soch kar itna hi kar liya hota
mujhe kitab samajh kar hi padh liya hota

tamam-umr faqat ek aarzu hi rahi
kiya tha pyar to phir tut kar kiya hota

ye aur baat ki main tujh se dur hun lekin
main tere pas bhi hota bhala to kya hota

papiha sawanon mein yun pukarta na kabhi
agar tu chandni raaton mein mil gaya hota

meri bisat ke bare mein puchhne wale
kisi faqir ka chehra hi padh liya hota

karun to kis se karun main gila jahaalat ka
ye aarzu thi ki main bhi padha-likha hota

khandar-zamin pe basa leta bastiyan wo bhi
agar wo waqt se pahle na mar gaya hota

bhari bhari kisi mahfil mein dekh kar us ko
main apne jism ke andar hi chhup gaya hota

mere qalam se tapakta hua lahu 'rizwi'
kisi ki aankh ka kajal hi ban gaya hota