pahle banti hi na thi baat so ab banti hai
aaj-kal un ke tasawwur se ghazab banti hai

chaliye chal kar kahin dhunde koi ujdi hui raat
apni in chand sitaron se to kab banti hai

nafs jab ruh pe hawi ho to phir wahshat mein
tishnagi dekhiye qurbat ka sabab banti hai

surmai sham mein suraj ka lahu mil jae
tab kahin ja ke meri jaan ye shab banti hai

phir sambhaale na sambhalti hai agar bigde to
aur bigade na bigadti hai ki jab banti hai

pahle pahle to kisi khel si lagti hai magar
sar pe chadh jae mohabbat to talab banti hai

aashiqi had se guzarti hai tabhi ja ke 'shahab'
qais-o-farhad ka ranjhe ka laqab banti hai