ye kitabon ki saf-ba-saf jilden
kaghazon ka fuzul istimal

raushnai ka shandar israf
sidhe sidhe se kuchh siyah dhabbe

jin ki taujih aaj tak na hui
chand khush-zauq kam-nasibon ne

basar auqat ke liye shayad
ye lakiren bikher dali hain

kitni hi be-qusur naslon ne
in ko padhne ke jurm mein ta-umr

le ke kashkul-e-ilm-o-hikmat-o-fan
ku-ba-ku jaan ki bhik mangi hai

aah ye waqt ka azab-e-alim
waqt khallaq be-shuur qadim

sari tarifen un andheron ki
jin mein partaw na koi parchhain

aah ye zindagi ki tanhai
sochna aur sochte rahna

chand masum pagalon ki saza
aaj main ne bhi soch rakkha hai

waqt se intiqam lene ko
yunhi ta-sham sade kaghaz par

tedhe tedhe khutut khinche jaen