sitare ki sajal jhilmil ke resham se bani main
hujum-e-khalq do ruya khada hai aur chali main

ye jo sahraon ke abaad aankhon mein khule hain
bagulon ko bhali lagne lagi hun hijrati main

main soti rah gai bedar lamhe ke umuq mein
koi khwabida saat thi ki jis mein jagti main

kai sahra the meri pyas ki pahnaiyon mein
kisi dariya ke tat tak aa ke phir wapas mudi main

ye tum jo kesari nila ba-nafsi dhundte ho
tumhein ye rang mil sakte hain par meri hansi main

kisi rahraw mein itna dam nahin aae dham ko
pichhal piri koi phirti hai khwahish ki gali mein

ye le kari ye girda-e-ghina ye ahmarin sur
kisi ke hont ghul kar aa rahe hain bansuri main

zaruri tha ki dil ke pech-o-kham par aankh padti
pata tera bhala logon se kaise puchhti main

khanak uthti hai rah rah kar meri aawaz 'mahnaz'
bahut nam-saz mitti gundh kar shayad bani main