main hamesha ki tarah tanhai ki bahon mein bahen dal kar
raat bhi sahil pe tha mahw-e-khiram

raat bhi apne hi sae ki nigahon mein nigahen dal kar
main khud apne-ap se tha ham-kalam

dam-ba-dam daman-kashan tha raat bhi gahre samundar ka fusun
khinch rahi thin raat ki nili ragen

raat bhi jab badh raha tha tez wahshat-khez maujon ka junun
mera saya kah raha tha aa chalen

na-gahan tuta dhuen ka aabshaar
dekhte hi dekhte bijli giri ek zor ka kaunda hua

mein bhanwar jaise safine par sawar
baadban jis ki hawaen bijliyan mastul tufan nakhuda

tak raha tha har taraf diwana-war
raat bhi main khauf ki shiddat mein apne sae se lipta hua

raat bhi palkon pe raushan tha lahu
raat bhi jari-o-sari tha ragon mein bijliyon ka irtiash

raat bhi hairan thi chashm-e-justuju
raat bhi dekhi hai main ne apne ek ham-shakl ki maujon mein lash

us ki pathrai hui aankhon se dur
raat bhi main buz-dili se bhag aaya us ko tanha chhod kar

bar-e-shab se aaj bhi shane hain chur
aaj bhi uttha hun jaise ruh ka tarik ghera tod kar