hum khwabon ke byopari the
par is mein hua nuqsan bada

kuchh bakht mein dheron kalak thi
kuchh ab ke ghazab ka kal pada

hum rakh liye hain jholi mein
aur sar pe hai sahukar khada

yan bund nahin hai dewe mein
wo baj-byaj ki baat kare

hum banjh zamin ko takte hain
wo dhor anaj ki baat kare

hum kuchh din ki mohlat mangen
wo aaj hi aaj ki baat kare

jab dharti sahra sahra thi
hum dariya dariya roe the

jab hath ki rekhaen chup thin
aur sur sangit mein soe the

tab hum ne jiwan-kheti mein
kuchh khwab anokhe boe the

kuchh khwab sajal muskanon ke
kuchh bol kabat diwanon ke

kuchh lafz jinhen mani na mile
kuchh git shikasta-jaanon ke

kuchh nir wafa ki shamon ke
kuchh par pagal parwanon ke

par apni ghayal aankhon se
khush ho ke lahu chhidkaya tha

mati mein mas ki khad bhari
aur nas nas ko zakhamaya tha

aur bhul gae pichhli rut mein
kya khoya tha kya paya tha

har bar gagan ne wahm diya
ab ke barkha jab aaegi

har bij se konpal phutegi
aur har konpal phal laegi

sar par chhaya chhatri hogi
aur dhup ghata ban jaegi

jab fasl kati to kya dekha
kuchh dard ke tute gajre the

kuchh zakhmi khwab the kanton par
kuchh khakistar se kajre the

aur dur ufuq ke sagar mein
kuchh dolte dubte bajre the

ab panw khadaun dhul-bhari
aur jism pe jog ka chola hai

sab sangi sathi bhed-bhare
koi masa hai koi tola hai

is tak mein ye is ghat mein wo
har or thagon ka tola hai

ab ghat na ghar dahliz na dar
ab pas raha hai kya baba

bas tan ki gathri baqi hai
ja ye bhi tu le ja baba

hum basti chhode jate hain
tu apna qarz chuka baba