zakhm-e-dil jab bhi mahakta hai bhala lagta hai
silsila 'ahd-e-guzishta hi se ja lagta hai

ek hi shakhs ne ek war kiya tha lekin
rang har shakhs ke chehre ka uda lagta hai

mujh ko ma'lum na tha aise bhi din aaenge
koi sach bol raha ho to bura lagta hai

apne ahbab se kuchh aisi bani hai ki hamein
koi but koi sanam koi khuda lagta hai

har naya chehra nai baat naya afsana
jo kisi ne na kaha aur na suna lagta hai

zehn mein aate hain insan ki udasi ke khayal
jab bhi pahlu mera bistar se zara lagta hai

kaun kis haal mein kis fikr mein kis soch mein hai
ab na chehron se na baaton se pata lagta hai

ghaur se dekhiye 'iqbaal-umar’ ka chehra
raat-bhar chand sitaron se lada lagta hai