naqsh wo aankh mein utra tha ki jata hi na tha
main ne is dhup ko dhalte kahin dekha hi na tha

ruh ki pyas bujhae na bujhegi kisi dhang
mujh ko is dasht ki pahnai mein ugna hi na tha

pahle is ghar ki har ek khidki khuli rahti thi
yun mila karte the jaise koi parda hi na tha

ab jo insan hawaon mein uda phirta hai
ye kabhi ped ke sae se nikalta hi na tha

daud padta tha jahan ret se jalte the qadam
sath dariya tha magar dar se utarta hi na tha

aisi sardi mein wahan ja ke kahan sustae
par naddi ke koi dhup ka khema hi na tha

raat ka ped uga tha ki koi saya tha
kya kahun hath laga kar use dekha hi na tha

kitne aazad the barsat ke khud-raw nale
apni duniya thi koi puchhne wala hi na tha

hadisa aisa bhi pesh aaega mar jaunga
khwab aisa to kabhi umr mein dekha hi na tha

shairi ne mujhe insan banaya hai 'khalil'
main wo shisha tha ki duniya se chamakta hi na tha