wo tanha tha to phir tanhai ka dam-saz hona tha
un aankhon ke liye mujh ko sitara-saz hona tha

sabhi khamosh the aawaz par us ki so aise mein
mujhe chup to nahin rahna tha ham-awaz hona tha

jo dil mein tha wo ek viran gumbad hi mein kah deta
ye mera ahd tha mujh ko asar-andaz hona tha

mere lab par zamane ki shikayat kis liye aai
agar ye shor tha to us ko be-awaz hona tha

na jaane mujh se kitne log the jo sochte ye the
ki in se ek nai tarikh ka aaghaz hona tha

jahan zakhmi tamannaon ki sarhad khatm hoti thi
wahan se ek nai ummid ka aaghaz hona tha

ye kar-e-ishq tha 'ashfaq' mujh se ho nahin paya
mujhe bhi shairi mein sahib-e-ejaz hona tha