wo un dinon to hamara tha lekin ab kya hai
phir us se aaj wahi ranj-e-be-sabab kya hai

tum us ka war bachane ki fikr mein kyun ho
wo jaanta hai masihaiyon ka dhab kya hai

dabiz kohar hai ya narm dhup ki chadar
khabar nahin tere baad ai ghubar-e-shab kya hai

dikha raha hai kise waqt an-ginat manzar
agar main kuchh bhi nahin hun to phir ye sab kya hai

ab is qadar bhi sukun mat dikha bichhadte hue
wo phir tujhe na kabhi mil sake ajab kya hai

main apne chehre se kis tarah ye naqab uthaun
samajh bhi ja ki pas-e-parda-e-tarab kya hai

yahan nahin hai ye dastur-e-guftugu 'irfan'
fughan sune na koi harf-e-zer-e-lab kya hai