ye bhi tilism-e-hosh-ruba hai
zinda chalte-phirte hanste rote nafrat aur mohabbat karte insan
sirf hayule aur dhuwen ke marghule hain
hum sab apni apni lashen apne tawahhum ke kandhon par lade sust-qadam wamanda
khak-ba-sar daman-e-darida zakhmi pairon se kanton angaron par chalte rahte hain
hum sab ek bade qabristan ke aawara bhut hain
jin ke jism to hath lagane se tahlil khala mein hon
jin ki ruhon ka zahir se zahir gosha hath na aae
hum ko mazi se wirse mein kohna qabren, girte malbe aur aaseb-zada khandaron ke dher mile hain
wo raushan shab-tab diye jin se mazi ko nur mila tha
is aaseb-zada mahaul mein yun julte hain
jaise ek pur-haul bayaban ke tera sannate mein
kuchh bhuton ne
rah-gum-karda sayyahon ko bhatkane ki khatir aag jalai ho
ab ye ujale sirf dhuan hain
aur aaseb-zada khandaron ki chhat ke chatakhte shahtiron ke shor mein koi hansta hai
jhadta chuna girti mitti nim muallaq diwar-o-dar
chupke chupke rote hain
taqon ke khamosh diye zulmat ko badhawa dete hain
sehn ke sadha sal purane budhe ped
qabron ke bedard mujawar ban kar lashon par sukhe patton ke dher laga dete hain
hum sab apni apni lashen apne ana ke dosh pe lade
ek qabristan ki pur-haul udasi se uktae hue
ek nae shamshan ka rasta dhund rahe hain
muntazir-e-marg-e-amboh hujum aankhon ke khali kase khole har-su dekh raha hai
jaane kab koi aaega jo apne daman ki hawa se
bhuton ka jalna dekhega
aur bhayanak sae gale mil mil kar khokhli aawazon mein roenge
is manzar mein jaane phir aisa koi aae ki na aae
hajw viran mayus nigahon ki khali jholi phailae
rakh mein phul kuredega