qafas mein aaj koi gham-gusar bhi to nahin
ajib waqt hai zikr-e-bahaar bhi to nahin

nigah-e-naz ko ilzam kis tarah dije
khud apne dil pe hamein ikhtiyar bhi to nahin

ye mante hain ki ab wo ghutan nahin lekin
khizan ke baad ka aalam bahaar bhi to nahin

bhatak rahe hain andheron mein karwan ab bhi
koi charagh sar-e-rahguzar bhi to nahin

sabhi ko meri tabahi pe aa raha hai taras
magar kisi ki nazar sharmsar bhi to nahin

hamare gham pe jahan hans raha hai kyon 'mahir'
hamari tarah koi be-qarar bhi to nahin