nahin ki tab koi kaghaz qalam na hota tha

nahin ki tab koi kaghaz qalam na hota tha
wo husn hi tha qayamat raqam na hota tha
har aadmi ko wahan milti us ke kaam ki dad
khuda ka nam khuda ki qasam na hota tha


to kya sunata farishton ko main kalam-e-jahan
kisi ki baaton mein pahlu-e-zam na hota tha
zara si pi thi kabhi jahilon ke sath sharab
nasha tha 'ilm ka aisa ki kam na hota tha


do ek bar to jite bhi khel khel mein hum
magar malal zara besh-o-kam na hota tha
hamein hi marna pada apna haal likhne ko
kisi ka dard kisi se raqam na hota tha


bahae jata tha sailab aansuon ka hamein
kisi ki aankh ka kona bhi nam na hota tha