baadshah hathi ke panw ke niche
achanak nahin aaya tha

magar darbariyon ne faisla kiya
ki kal jo shakhs sab se pahle

shahr mein dakhil hoga
baadshahat use saunp di jaegi

agle din hathi ne
chupke se ek baune ko

shahr ke sadr darwaze par
apni pith se utara

aur ba-zahir ghaeb ho gaya
bauna shahr mein dakhil hua

to ahl-e-darbar ne use hathon hath liya
aur apne faisle se aagah kiya

baune ne hairat se sar utha kar unhen dekha
to us ki topi zamin par gir gai

ye dekh kar musahibin be-sakhta hans diye
bauna khisyana ho gaya

magar ahaali mawali fauran hi aadab baja lae
aur takht par baithne ki darkhwast ki

baune ne kaha
wo sirf is shart par hukmran banega

ki sab log us ke ham-qadr ho jaen
maslahat ki daldal mein phanse

mafadat ki dor mein bandhe
un 'aqibat-na-andesh ne

baune ki ye baat man li
is martaba baune ne fakhr se

sar utha kar dekha
to na us ki topi niche giri

aur na hi ahl-e-darbar hanse