ye zara sa kuchh aur ek-dam be-hisab sa kuchh
sar-e-sham sine mein hanpta hai sarab sa kuchh

wo chamak thi kya jo pighal gai hai nawah-e-jaan mein
ki ye aankh mein kya hai shola-e-zer-e-ab sa kuchh

kabhi mehrban aankh se parakh is ko kya hai ye shai
hamein kyun hai sine mein is sabab iztirab sa kuchh

wo faza na jaane sawal karne ke baad kya thi
ki hile to the lab, mila ho shayad jawab sa kuchh

mere chaar jaanib ye khinch gai hai qanat kaisi
ye dhuan hai khatm-e-safar ka ya tute khwab sa kuchh

wo kahe zara kuchh to dil ko kya kya khalal satae
ki na jaane us ki hai baat mein kya kharab sa kuchh

na ye khak ka ijtinab hi koi rasta de
na udan bharne de sar pe ye pech-o-tab sa kuchh

sar-e-sharh-o-izhaar jaane kaisi hawa chali hai
ki bikhar gaya hai sukhan sukhan intikhab sa kuchh

ye bahaar-e-be-sakhta chali aai hai kahan se
tan-e-zard mein khil utha hai pile gulab sa kuchh

are kya bataen hawa-e-imkan ke khel kya hain
ki dilon mein banta hai tutta hai habab sa kuchh

kabhi ek pal bhi na sans li khul ke hum ne 'bani'
raha umr bhar bas-ki jism o jaan mein azab sa kuchh