mustaqil mahw-e-gham-e-ahd-e-guzishta hona
aise hone se to behtar hai na dil ka hona

main hun insan mujhe insan hi rahne dije
mat sikhaen mujhe har gam farishta hona

dekhni padti hain har mod pe udhdi lashen
kitna dushwar hai is shahar mein bina hona

ai musawwir zara taswir mein manzar ye utar
do kinaron ko hai dekha gaya yakja hona

hain faraham mujhe be-rah-rawi ke asbab
zeb dega mujhe aawara-e-duniya hona

bastiyan shahr-e-khamoshan ki tarah hain aabaad
zinda logon ko lubhane laga murda hona

ai pari-zad tere hijr mein ye hum pe khula
maut se ziyaada alam-bakhsh hai tanha hona

khud hi gir jaegi zindan-e-badan ki diwar
ruh-e-afsurda ko bechain bhala kya hona

kha gaya raunaqen paiwand-o-marasim ki 'nadim'
jins-e-ikhlas ka bazar mein sasta hona