kabhi khushk mausam mein purwa jo chalti
to banjar pahadon ghane gard-alud shahron se katra ke

hum tak pahunchti
hamein tund yaadon ke girdab main

dubte aur ubharte hue dekh kar hum se kahti
main un sab ke jismon se mas ho ke aai hun

un ke pasine ki khushbu ko
apne libaade mein bhar kar

hatheli pe rakh kar main lai hun
kabhi surkh suraj nikalta

to hum us se kahte
tumhaari dahakti hui aankh ka raaz kya hai

wo kahta
main in sab ki aankhon ke ghurfon se

ye sari ujli tamazat churaata raha hun
main daryuza-gar un charaghon se khud ko jalata raha hun

unhen hum ne dhunda
kabhi sabz shabnam ke chhinton mein taron ki roti hui anjuman main

kabhi subh ki qatl-gah shab ke ghayal badan mein
unhen hum ne aawaz di ku-ba-ku

gham mein dubi hui bastiyon se ate khak-dan-e-watan mein
magar wo nahin the kahin bhi nahin the

kahin un ke qadmon ki halki si aawaz tak bhi nahin thi
phir ek roz dharti ka mausam jo badla

to baadal ne shanon se hum ko hila kar jagaya
kaha un ke aane ka paigham aaya

chahakte parindon ne shakhon se ud kar
hawaon mein ek daera sa banaya

kaha un ke aane ka paigham aaya
dhanak sat rangon mein lipti hui

ek kaman ban ke zahir hui
hum se kahne lagi apni aankhon se dekha hai main ne unhen

tez qadmon se aate hue
sham hansne lagi

us ki aankhon mein khushiyon ke aansu the
aariz pe shabnam

naginon ki surat chamakne lagi thi