kisi kabus ka goya gazida
shikasta khwab-e-be-tabir ko aankhon se dho kar

gharibi dhundhne nikla sawere
to hairani ko daman-gir paya

guzargahon mein lashkar be-aman the
chahakte chahchahate naunihaalan

jhuke jate the pushtaron ke mare
unhen kuchh bhi nahin malum mahshar

kamin-gahon mein un ka muntazir hai
khudaya aagahi aakhir kidhar hai

to main gard-e-kudurat munh pe mal ke
gharibi dhundhne nikla tha ghar se

siyah-karon ki caron ke tawile
mere raste ko har jaanib se roke

salib-e-dud par mujh ko chadhae
chale jate the nadida jahan mein

jahan duniya-e-gham-na-ashnayan
sajile khush-nigar-o-sim-tan hain

sar-e-rahe phate latton ke kheme
wahin atraf mein bachchon ke rewad

wahin maili kuchaili aurten bhi
sar-e-bazar mardon ke barabar

musawat-e-tamaddun ka namuna
unhen kuchh bhi nahin malum

ghurbat kya bala hai
ki zer-e-asman jo kuchh hai

sab un ka jahan hai
bil-akhir thak thaka kar ghar ko lauta

thithak kar apni chaukhat par jo thahra
to us ke par ek viran si duniya

ujale mein fareb-e-shab ke dubi
gharibi ko kaleje se lagae

meri aamad ki jaise muntazir bhi
wahin gulshan dua ke na-farida

wahin pazhmurda ummidon ki kaliyan
wahin danishwari sar-dar-gareban

gareban chaak apna si rahi thi
wahin fikr-e-rasa bhi ro rahi thi