puchhte kya ho jo haal-e-shab-e-tanhai tha
rukhsat-e-sabr thi ya tark-e-shakebai tha

shab-e-furqat mein dil-e-gham-zada bhi pas na tha
wo bhi kya raat thi kya aalam-e-tanhai tha

main tha ya dida-e-khun-naba-fishani shab-e-hijr
un ko wan mashghala-e-anjuman-arai tha

para-ha-e-dil-e-khunin ki talab thi paiham
shab jo aaankhon mein meri zauq-e-khud-arai tha

rahm to ek taraf paya-shanasi dekho
qais ko kahte hain majnun tha sahrai tha

aanhken qatil sahi par zinda jo karna hota
lab pe ai jaan tu eajaz masihai tha

khun ro ro diye bas do hi qadam mein chhaale
yan wahi hausla-e-baadiya-paimai tha

dushman-e-jaan the udhar hijr mein dard-o-gham-o-ranj
aur idhar ek akela tera shaidai tha

ungliyan uthti thin mizhgan ki usi rukh paiham
jis taraf bazm mein wo kafir-e-tarsai tha

kaun is rah se guzra hai ki har naqsh-e-qadam
chashm-e-ashiq ki tarah us ka tamashai tha

khub waqt aae nakirain jaza dega khuda
lahd-e-tira mein bhi kya aalam-e-tanhai tha

hum ne bhi hazrat-'shibli' ki ziyarat ki thi
yun to zahir mein muqaddas tha pa shaidai tha