main so gaya
to zindagi alamaton ki khoj mein nikal gai

purane zawiyon ki dhul
jism par male hue

bahut nirash sainkadon baras ke git ghat ghat phailte safed paniyon ke bich gholti
chalti gai

safed paniyon ke nam
purane zawiyon ki dhul nafraten aur pattharon ki dheryan

udas panw thak gae
na jaduon ki bhid thi na log the jo dhat ke bane hue hisar mein ghire

hue bikhar gae
nishan kanpte nishan kho gae

wo ganw aur ganw ki nadi pe ek pul ki jaise aaine pe sangtare ke surkh qash
barha jo dhup mein chamak uthi

wo barishon se dhul gai
kabhi safed pyaliyon ke gird jo bandhe hue siyah tar der tak sadaen de ke kat gae

to mausamon ke sae bhi guzar gae
zamin apne aansuon se bhigti chali gai

hawa chali to dur dur dhund se ate hue gharon ki moon-bastiyon mein faslon ke tez
sankh baj uthe

jahaz koi aa raha hai paniyon ko chirta wo aa gaya
magar yahan ki bastiyon mein kaun hai jo aas ki shikha liye sapat sard rit par khada rahe

koi nahin koi nahin
to kyun na ab bujhi hui dishaon ko samet len

to kyun na aur so rahen