mujhe zalzala-zada ilaqe se uthaya gaya tha
ya shayad

sailab-zada ilaqe se
magar mera koi waris ab is duniya mein baqi nahin hai

meri kam-umri
meri wahid kafil hai

aur
achchhi shakl hi ab meri zindagi ki zamin hai

meri be-libasi
libas se ziyaada qimti aur ba-mani hai

main ne kai bar
adalaton mein peshi ke dauran apne be-asra hone ki

duhai di
magar har bar

mere anguthe par khamushi ki siyahi laga di gai
mujhe un mardon ke nam yaad nahin

jo
mujhe shahr shahr aur ganw ganw liye phire

magar mujhe
us aurat ki aankhen yaad hain

jis ne mujhe dekh kar aansu bahae the
aur

phir yahan chhod kar chup-chap chali gai thi!