sawad-e-sham na rang-e-sahar ko dekhte hain
bas ek sitara-e-wahshat-asar ko dekhte hain

kisi ke aane ki jis se khabar bhi aati nahin
na jaane kab se usi rahguzar ko dekhte hain

khuda-gawah ki aaina-e-nafas hi mein hum
khud apni zindagi-e-mukhtasar ko dekhte hain

to kya bas ek thikana wahi hai duniya mein
wo dar nahin to kisi aur dar ko dekhte hain

suna hai shahr ka naqsha badal gaya 'mahfuz'
to chal ke hum bhi zara apne ghar ko dekhte hain