sitare chahte hain mahtab mangte hain
mere dariche nai aab-o-tab mangte hain

wo khush-khiram jab is rah se guzarta hai
to sang-o-khisht bhi izn-e-khitab mangte hain

koi hawa se ye kah de zara thahar jae
ki raqs karne ki mohlat habab mangte hain

ajib hai ye tamasha ki mere ahd ke log
sawal karne se pahle jawab mangte hain

talab karen to ye aankhen bhi in ko de dun main
magar ye log in aankhon ke khwab mangte hain

ye ehtisab ajab hai ki mohtasib hi nahin
rikab thamne wale hisab mangte hain

sutun-o-baam ki diwar-o-dar ki shart nahin
bas ek ghar tere khana-kharab mangte hain