shabnam ka ek qatra
be-bahra-e-khudi tha

tapka falak se shab ko
aur barg-e-gul pe thahra

is tarah tha chamakta
hire ka jaise tukda

karta tha khel us se
mauj-e-saba ka jhonka

rangin hua tha wo bhi
jis tarah har kali thi

milti thin jab bhi shakhen
rah rah ke tha sanbhalta

leta tha barg-e-gul par
dhire se phir sahaara

rang-e-chaman tha deta
ek dawat-e-nazara

har chand ranj-o-sadma
us ko nahin zara tha

lekin koi sabab tha
jo wo laraz raha tha

rangin hua tha wo bhi
jis tarah har kali thi

shabnam si zindagi kya
behtar hai mar hi jaana

khuddar ho jahan mein
hire ka jaise tukda

khurshid ka ho partaw
saman khud baqa ka

ban aah lakht-e-adam
almas ka tu tukda

hire ka ek tukda
tashbih hai khudi ka