pesh-tar jumbish-e-lab baat se pahle kya tha
zehn mein sifr ki auqat se pahle kya tha

waslat o hijrat-e-ushshaq mein kya tha awwal
nafi thi baad to isbaat se pahle kya tha

koi gardish thi ki sakit the zamin o khurshid
gumbad-e-waqt mein din raat se pahle kya tha

main agar pahla tamasha tha tamasha-gah mein
mashghala us ka meri zat se pahle kya tha

kuchh wasila to raha hoga shikam-seri ka
rizq-e-khufta ki nabaatat se pahle kya tha

main agar aadam-e-sani hun to wirsa hai kahan
zarf-e-ajdad mein amwat se pahle kya tha

har mulaqat ka anjam judai tha agar
phir ye hangama mulaqat se pahle kya tha

main bhi maghlub tha hajat ki kasrat se magar
lutf us ko bhi munajat se pahle kya tha