nae zamanon ki chap to sar pe aa khadi thi
meri samaat guzishta adwar mein padi thi

udhar diye ka badan hawa se tha para para
idhar andhere ki aankh mein ek kiran gadi thi

falak pe tha aatishin darakhton ka ek jangal
aur un darakhton ke bich tarik jhonpadi thi

samai kis tarah meri aankhon ki putliyon mein
wo ek hairat jo aaine se bahut badi thi

jise piroya tha apne hathon se tere gham ne
sada-e-girya mein hichkiyon ki ajab ladi thi

hamari palkon pe raqs karte hue sharare
aur aasman mein kahin sitaron ki phuljadi thi

tulu subh-e-hazar khurshid ki dua par
bujhe charaghon ki rakh daman pe aa padi thi

sabhi ghamin the mere piyale mein zahr pa kar
main mutmain tha ki meri takmil ki ghadi thi

sawal-e-rukh gulistan mein aaya to phul thahra
labon ki hasrat sukhan mein pahunchi to pankhudi thi

ye log to un dinon bhi na-khush the 'shahryara'
ki jin dinon mere pas jadu ki ek chhadi thi