taqaze hain shayad yahi aaj-kal ke
bahaaron mein rakh den gulon ko masal ke

meri talkh thi muskurahat kuchh aisi
gham-e-zindagi rah gaya hath mal ke

hamein kya daraate ho mitne ke dar se
zamana na rakh de tumhein khud kuchal ke

faza mein ye dhimi si aahat hai kaisi
saba hai ki un ke qadam halke halke

ye dil hai shikasta umidon ki basti
yahan aaiyega sambhal ke sambhal ke

ajab hai ye duniya ajab us ki rasmen
kahin par ujale kahin par dhundalke

na ki main ne taqlid-e-shaikh-o-barahman
khuda mil gaya is bhanwar se nikal ke

suna hai bahisht-e-zamin mai-kada hai
chalo 'tahira' dekh len kyon na chal ke