zindagi dil pe ajab sehr sa karti jae
ek jagah thahri lage aur guzarti jae

aansuon se koi aawaz ko nisbat na sahi
bhigti jae to kuchh aur nikharti jae

dekhte dekhte dhundla gae manzar sare
teri zulfon ki tarah sham bikharti jae

baat ka raaz khule baat ka andaz khule
tere honton se chale dil mein utarti jae

rafta rafta kisi gum-nam lahu ki tahrir
qatil-e-shahr ke daman pe ubharti jae

ho ke barbaad chale sehn-e-chaman se nikhat
dasht-o-sahra ki magar jholiyan bharti jae

main ne kab dawa-e-ilham kiya hai 'taban'
likh diya karta hun jo dil pe guzarti jae