raat charagh ki mahfil mein shamil ek zamana tha
lekin sath mein jalne wali raat thi ya parwana tha

khizar nahin rahzan hi hoga rah mein jis ne lut liya
lekin yaro shak hota hai kuchh jaana pahchana tha

shab-bhar jis rudad-o-alam par ashk bahate guzri thi
subh hui to hum ne jaana apna hi afsana tha

kaun hamare dard ko samjha kis ne gham mein sath diya
kahne ko to sath hamare tum kya ek zamana tha

log use jo chahen kah len apna to ye haal raha
sirf unhin se zakhm mile hain jin se kuchh yarana tha

maslahaton ki is basti mein lab khulte ye tab na thi
waz-e-junun ki baat na puchho wo bhi ek bahana tha

talkhi-e-gham pahunche the bhulane sud-o-ziyan mein uljhe hain
baada-faroshon ki mandi thi nam magar mai-khana tha

jin ki khatir hum ne apna zauq-e-talab badnam kiya
aaj wahi kahte hain hans kar shair tha diwana tha