tha pa-shikasta aankh magar dekhti to thi
mana wo be-amal tha magar aagahi to thi

ilzam-e-narasi se mubarra nahin thi sip
lekin kisi ke shauq mein dubi hui to thi

mana wo dasht-e-shauq mein pyasa hi mar gaya
ek jhil justuju ki pas-e-tishnagi to thi

ehsas par muhit the lafzon ke daere
lafzon ke daeron mein magar zindagi to thi

viran tha sehn-e-bagh magar is qadar na tha
kone mein sukhe patton ki mahfil jami to thi

gham dur kar ke aur bhi mafluj kar diya
tanhaiyon ki raat mein dil-bastagi to thi

is thandi raat mein to andhere ka raj hai
suraj jala raha tha magar raushni to thi