pada hua main kisi aaine ke ghar mein hun
ye tera shahr hai ya khwab ke nagar mein hun

udae phirti hai an-dekhe sahilon ki hawa
main ek umr se ek be-karan safar mein hun

tujhe ye wahm ki main tujh se be-talluq hun
mujhe ye dukh ki tere halqa-e-asar mein hun

meri talash mein gardan hain tir kirnon ke
chhupa hua main khunuk saya-e-shajar mein hun

main teri samt bhi aaunga marifat ko teri
abhi to apne hi irfan ki rahguzar mein hun

teri udan mein shamil hai tarbiyat meri
mujhe na bhul ki main tere baal-o-par mein hun

bula raha hai udhar mujh ko mera mustaqbil
ghira hua main idhar haal ke bhanwar mein hun

rakhegi tujh ko moattar sada mahak meri
racha hua main tere ghar ke baam-o-dar mein hun

meri parakh ko bhi aaenge jauhari 'betab'
hun lal-e-nab magar shahr-e-kam-nazar mein hun