shahr ke bahar, virane mein
ek pagdandi par tanha sa

nanha sa ek ped khada tha
shakhen us ki chhoti chhoti

patte kam kam
phal bhi thode ikka-dukka

jaise kisi ne tod liye hon
lekin saya ghana ghana tha

main ne dekha
ek musafir us ki chhanw mein sustata tha

thodi der mein wo uth baitha
saman us ne safar ka bandha

aur safar ki aasaish ko
ped se do ek phal bhi tode

hare hare kuchh patte noche
gathri mein chupke se rakkhe

shahr ke raste par chala nikla
thodi dur se laut ke dekha

pagdandi par ped khada tha
nanha sa, wo tanha tanha!

rah-rau thitka soch mein duba
apne-ap se wo yun bola

is viran si pagdandi par
tanha tanha be-masraf sa

ped khada hai! kya karta hai!