wahi jhuki hui belen wahi daricha tha
magar wo phul sa chehra nazar na aata tha

main laut aaya hun khamoshiyon ke sahra se
wahan bhi teri sada ka ghubar phaila tha

shab-e-safar thi qaba tirgi ki pahne hue
kahin kahin pe koi raushni ka dhabba tha

ye aadi-tirchhi lakiren bana gaya hai kaun
main kya kahun mere dil ka waraq to sada tha

main khak-dan se nikal kar bhi kya hua aazad
har ek taraf se mujhe aasman ne ghera tha

idhar se bar-ha guzra magar khabar na hui
ki zer-e-sang khunuk paniyon ka chashma tha

wo us ka aks-e-badan tha ki chandni ka kanwal
wo nili jhil thi ya aasman ka tukda tha

main sahilon mein utar kar 'shakeb' kya leta
azal se nam mera paniyon pe likkha tha