ret se aandhiyon ka jhagda tha
sans-dar-sans dam ulajhta tha

wo akela hi bhid jaisa tha
wo mere chaaron or chalta tha

khel khela chhupan-chhupai ka
chhupne wala kabhi na milta tha

is baras dah gai hain diwaren
pichhli barish mein mor nacha tha

surkh joda kharid lai man
jaane kin lakdiyon mein jalna tha

raat aansu pahan ke baith gai
chand chup-chap takta jata tha

main ne luknat ubur kar li thi
an-kahi baat ko samajh liya tha

zindagi bik rahi thi thele par
thele wala kahin chala gaya tha

kali chadar mujhe aziz rahi
mera dukh-sukh usi mein lipta tha

us ko surat badalte dekha tha
jo mere sare dukh samajhta tha