kal bhi ye karb tha aur tira-shabi thi lekin
kal to aaya tha koi subh-e-nau ummid liye

ye alag baat ki tute the sitare kal bhi
mere be-nam se jazbaat ki tardid liye

kal bhi yunhi dar-e-zindan tha muqaffal lekin
zindagi qaid se is darja pareshan na thi

zist ka mujh pe koi bar nahin tha kal tak
aarzu dil ki shikasta thi pasheman na thi

han magar aaj naya hadisa guzra hai yahan
zindagi gham se shikasta bhi pareshan bhi hai

dil koi harf-e-ghalat ban ke mita jata hai
aur har sans giran-bar-o-pasheman bhi hai

mujh ko ma'lum hai ye qaid ye tanhai-e-shab
sab ke sab meri hi taqdir ka hasil kyon hain

kyon ye mahrumi-e-paiham ka fusun tari hai
khwahishen aaj bhi paband-e-salasil kyon hain

han magar tum se mere dard ka rishta bhi nahin
‘ishrat-o-‘aish ka mahaul tumhein ras aaya

main ne jis zo'm mein ruswai ke ta'ne jhele
us ka anjam-e-bala-khez mere pas aaya

aaj haalat muafiq nahin khuddari ke
ek nai tishna-labi tesha-zani lai hai

tum to har tarh se shadan ho magar mera gham
qaid-e-tanhai hai aur jaan pe ban aai hai

aaj bhi karb-e-musalsal ka wahi 'alam hai
silsila har nai uljhan ka isi gham se hai

aaj bhi zehn mein zinda hain wahi afsane
jin ka rishta bhi isi gesu-e-pur-kham se hai

aaj khud mujh pe mera josh-e-junun hansta hai
aaj main ishq-e-bala-khez pe sharminda hun

aur ye tark-e-mohabbat ki saza hai shayad
aaj main khud se gurezan hun magar zinda hun