to phir kya rah-e-hasti mein koi nazuk maqam aaya
zaban par aaj ye be-sakhta kyon un ka nam aaya

kahan tak ehtiyat-e-sajda hoti rah-e-ulfat mein
kahin tur-e-nazar aaya kahin dil ka maqam aaya

juda maqsad juda mashrab juda rahen juda manzil
na duniya mere kaam aai na main duniya ke kaam aaya

karishma-sazi-e-fikr-o-nazar ka puchhna kya hai
tulu-e-subh se pahle mujhe paigham-e-sham aaya

jahan par phul khilte the wahan kante hue paida
ye kis ke dast-e-qudrat mein gulistan ka nizam aaya

khuda malum wo hain ya hai nairangi tasawwur ki
nazar ke samne ek paikar-e-husn-e-tamam aaya

hayat-o-maut ko ye kashmakash dekhi nahin jati
ajal is samt aai us taraf un ka payam aaya

'khalish' fitrat ki gul-afshaniyan mere hi dam tak thin
na phir koi nawed aai na phir koi payam aaya