phir aaj chaar sal baad usi jagah khadi hun main
chabutre pe gard ki dabiz tah jami hui

guzarti saaton ke gham daron mein chikhte hue
udas khidkiyon ke rang dukh mein bhigte hue

ye khwab bistaraon ki chadaron mein sukhte hue
wo phul ek bar jis tarah yahan sajae the

usi tarah se un ke zard naqsh kanpte hue
phir aaj chaar sal baad usi jagah khadi hun main

hawa na-jaane kitni bar dar pe aa ke ja chuki
na-jaane kitni bar khidkiyon pe dastaken huin

na-jaane kitne qahqahon ko log bhul bhi chuke
chabutre pe gard ki dabiz tah ne kah diya

ki muddaton se yan kisi ne dastan nahin likhi
phir aaj chaar sal baad usi jagah khadi hun main

haweliyon ka tumtaraq tut kar bikhar chuka
chaman se ab bahaar ka har ek nasha utar chuka

ananiyat shikast-khurda khamushi mein dhal chuki
aur aaj gumbadon mein apni gunj sun rahi hun main

ki muddaton se ghar mein muskurahaten na jal sakin
phir aaj chaar sal baad usi jagah khadi hun main

magar wo nam to kahin khude hue hain ped par
main roz-o-shab ki aandhiyon ko apne ghar mein hi rahun

main sham ko udasiyon mein ek darakht ke tale
purane nam chupke chupke yaad kar ke ro sakun

phir aaj chaar sal baad usi jagah khadi hun main
magar wo ped aandhiyon mein jaane kab ukhad gaya

na-jaane kaun log is ko kat kar chale gae
mujhe nahin khabar ki is ki patiyan kahan gain

tane ki lakdiyan bhi kis machine mein badal gain
wo nam paniyon ke raste kahan chale gae

phir aaj chaar sal baad usi jagah khadi hun main
main laut jaungi chabutre ki gard punchh kar

guzarti saaton ke gham-daron mein chikh jaenge
udas khidkiyon ke rang dukh mein bhig jaenge

ye khwab bistaraon ki chadaron mein sukh jaenge
main taza phul jis tarah se ab saja ke jaungi

wahi nuqush chaar sal baad kanp jaenge
main ghurbaton ki qabr mein khamosh laut jaungi

ye umr be-kanar raston mein bit jaegi
main ab ujad bastiyon mein laut ke na aaungi