swad-e-gham ho ya bazm-e-tarab kuchh bhi nahin hota
zaban marham rakkhe ya zakhm ab kuchh bhi nahin hota

chale aate hain be-mausam ki barish ki tarah aansu
basa-auqat rone ka sabab kuchh bhi nahin hota

jo hota hai to bas itna ki lafzon ka bharam tute
sukhan aata hai akasr ta-ba-lab kuchh bhi nahin hota

kabhi the mehrban mausam kabhi sawan barasta tha
aur ab dharti hai sari tishna-lab kuchh bhi nahin hota

tamanna jhankti hai rauzan-e-zindan se chhup chhup kar
asiri mein magar anjam-e-shab kuchh bhi nahin hota

qayamat si guzarti hai qayamat aa nahin jati
koi be-jaan ho ya jaan-ba-lab kuchh bhi nahin hota

jibillat sar utha le to khas-o-khashak hai insan
bada ho nam ya uncha nasab kuchh bhi nahin hota

yahan hota hai baad-az-marg wawaila bahut lekin
koi mar mar ke jab jita ho tab kuchh bhi nahin hota

ye duniya hai yahan tarikh hi dohrai jati hai
anokha kuchh nahin hota ajab kuchh bhi nahin hota