qadmon se itna dur kinara kabhi na tha
na-qabil-e-ubur ye dariya kabhi na tha

tum sa hasin in aankhon ne dekha kabhi na tha
lekin ye sach nahin koi tum sa kabhi na tha

hai zikr-e-yar kyun shab-e-zindan se dur dur
ai ham-nashin ye tarz ghazal ka kabhi na tha

kamre mein dil ke us ke alawa koi nahin
hairan hun ki aisa andhera kabhi na tha

kis ne bisat-e-bahs ke mohre badal diye
tanha to tha wo pahle bhi gunga kabhi na tha

imroz-e-intizar ka farda to kal bhi hai
andoh-e-imshabi ka sawera kabhi na tha

har zehn mein hamesha sulagta hai ye sawal
aakhir hua wo kyun jise hona kabhi na tha

diwana tha bhatak gaya gum ho gaya hai qais
khali magar kajawa-e-laila kabhi na tha

kal bhi isi dayar mein tha raushni ka qaht
aisa magar charagh ka dhanda kabhi na tha

pighli kuchh aur barf to ek aur shahr-e-khwab
yun bah gaya nasheb mein goya kabhi na tha

barsa hai kis babul pe abr-e-bahaar-khez
itna hara to zakhm-e-tamanna kabhi na tha

us ne bhi iltifat se dekha tha kab 'khalish'
main ne bhi us ke bare mein socha kabhi na tha