main apni aatish mein jal raha tha
to main ne dekha

ki log mujh se zara hi dur
ek gadhe ke atraf yun jama the

ki jaise duniya ke sare kaamon ko chhod kar
sirf mere jalne ke muntazir hon

wo der se
ustukhwan lahad mein utarne ke liye khade the

wo sab azadar the magar
hasb-e-adat hi phabtiyan kas rahe the mujh par

main jal raha tha
magar mere kan un ki aawaz sun rahe the

meri nigahen talash mein thin
ki war mujh par kiya tha kis ne

main sochta tha ki apne bujhne se peshtar hi
main apni aankhen

hawa ke jhonkon se bandh dunga
phir is ke kuchh der ba'd

mujh ko shabih meri dikhai di thi
main apni aankhon mein jal raha tha

pighal raha tha
aur agle lamhe

meri nazar jab dobara utthi to main ne dekha
ki mera ham-zad ek patthar ki aad le kar

mera hi dhancha chaba raha tha