kahan gaya wo zamana ki jis ki yaad mein aaj
bhulae baitha hun khud ko pata nahin milta

gai kahan hai wo ab suraten mohabbat ki
zamane bhar mein kahin naqsh-e-pa nahin milta

main puchhun kis se pata aur kahan kahan dhundun
wahan ka koi bhi aaya gaya nahin milta

wo aspatal ki shab bhi thi kya qayamat ki
wahan qafas se jo tair uda nahin milta

nahif bazu the mere liye hisar-e-aman
maza kahin bhi us aaghosh ka nahin milta

wo bujhti aankhen thi mere liye charagh-e-hayat
nigah-e-mehr ka ab wo diya nahin milta

tamiz kaise karun rahzan-o-rafiq mein ab
rah-e-hayat ka wo rahnuma nahin milta

bas ek dam se wo badli hawa zamane ki
ki shaikh milte hain dil ba-safa nahin milta

bala ka shor hai ulfat ke mai-kade mein magar
sharab milti hai lekin nasha nahin milta

hui hai ruh wo ab jazb-e-ruh-e-pak-e-azim
mila jo zat mein us ki juda nahin milta

wo goya abr ka saya tha le udi jo hawa
bikhar ke phul ka jaise pata nahin milta

wo ek naghma tha gum ho gaya fazaon mein
ki jaise bahr mein qatra gira nahin milta

talash un ki yahan hai 'habib' la-hasil
ki chashm-e-tar se jo aansu gira nahin milta