rukhsat hua to aankh mila kar nahin gaya
wo kyun gaya hai ye bhi bata kar nahin gaya

wo yun gaya ki baad-e-saba yaad aa gai
ehsas tak bhi hum ko dila kar nahin gaya

yun lag raha hai jaise abhi laut aaega
jate hue charagh bujha kar nahin gaya

bas ek lakir khinch gaya darmiyan mein
diwar raste mein bana kar nahin gaya

shayad wo mil hi jae magar justuju hai shart
wo apne naqsh-e-pa to mita kar nahin gaya

ghar mein hai aaj tak wahi khushbu basi hui
lagta hai yun ki jaise wo aa kar nahin gaya

tab tak to phul jaisi hi taza thi us ki yaad
jab tak wo pattiyon ko juda kar nahin gaya

rahne diya na us ne kisi kaam ka mujhe
aur khak mein bhi mujh ko mila kar nahin gaya

waisi hi be-talab hai abhi meri zindagi
wo khar-o-khas mein aag laga kar nahin gaya

'shahzad' ye gila hi raha us ki zat se
jate hue wo koi gila kar nahin gaya