aaj-kal aksar aisa pata hun
apne ashaar bhul jata hun

kya bahr thi wo kya tarannum tha
ashk tha koi ya tabassum tha

kaifiyat kya thi aur kya ehsas
jin se hota tha khudi ka ehsas

jin ko main jawedan samajhta tha
apne donon-jahan samajhta tha

ab wahi sher bhul jata hon
aaj-kal aksar aisa pata hun

aisa kyun ho gaya agar sochun
koi wajib wajh agar khojun

aisa mahsus hone lagta hai
sher khud ko wo yaad rahta hai

jo kisi aur ko bhi yaad rahe
honth pe na ho magar dil mein base

aisa mumkin to hai magar bas tab
kisi lamhe main khud ko bhul ke jab

khud ko dariya-dili se banta ho
mera main aur kisi ka hissa ho

yun kiya hi nahin to kya fariyaad
apni hi qaid mein raha aabaad

fikr ki asli baat ye hai magar
in dinon yun bhi hua hai aksar

sher auron ke bhul jata hun
kya main pahle ki tarah zinda hun