rukh pe gard-e-malal thi kya thi
hasil-e-mah-o-sal thi kya thi

ek surat si yaad hai ab bhi
aap apni misal thi kya thi

meri jaanib uthi thi koi nigah
ek mubham sawal thi kya thi

us ko pa kar bhi us ko pa na saka
justuju-e-jamal thi kya thi

subh tak khud se ham-kalam raha
ye shab-e-jazb-o-haal thi kya thi

dil mein thi par labon tak aa na saki
aarzu-e-visal thi kya thi

apne zakhmon pe ek fasurda hansi
koshish-e-indimal thi kya thi

umar bhar mein bas ek bar aai
saat-e-la-zawal thi kya thi

khun ki pyasi thi sar-zamin-e-watan
ek shahr-e-khayal thi kya thi

bais-e-ranjish-e-azizan thi
khu-e-kasb-e-kamal thi kya thi

ek jhalak lamha-e-faraghat thi
ek amr-e-muhaal thi kya thi

koi khwahan na tha ki jins-e-hunar
ek muflis ka mal thi kya thi