nahr jis lashkar ki nigrani mein tab thi ab bhi hai
kheme walon ki jo basti tishna-lab thi ab bhi hai

ud rahe hain waqt ki raftar se maghrib ki samt
waqt-e-aghaz-e-safar jo tera shab thi ab bhi hai

waqt jaise ek hi saat pe aa ke ruk gaya
pahle jis shiddat se jo dil mein talab thi ab bhi hai

hum shikayat aankh ki palkon se karte kis tarah
dastan-e-zulm warna yaad sab thi ab bhi hai

husn mein fitri hijabana rawish ab ho na ho
ishq ke maslak mein jo hadd-e-adab thi ab bhi hai

roz o shab badlenge apne kis tarah aae yaqin
surat-e-haalat jo pahle ajab thi ab bhi hai

hain baqa ke waswase mein ibtida se mubtala
dil mein ek tashwish si jo be-sabab thi ab bhi hai

nam is ka aamariyyat ho ki ho jamhuriyat
munsalik firauniyat masnad se tab thi ab bhi hai