main ne tanha kabhi us ko dekha nahin
phir bhi jab us ko dekha wo tanha mila

jaise sahra mein chashma kahin
ya samundar mein minar-e-nur

ya koi fikr-e-auham mein
fikr sadiyon akeli akeli rahi

zehn sadiyon akela akela mila
aur akela akela bhatakta raha

har nae har purane zamane mein wo
be-zaban tirgi mein kabhi

aur kabhi chikhti dhup mein
chandni mein kabhi khwab ki

us ki taqdir thi ek musalsal talash
khud ko dhunda kiya har fasane mein wo

bojh se apne us ki kamar jhuk gai
qad magar aur kuchh aur badhta raha

khair-o-shar ki koi jang ho
zindagi ka ho koi jihad

wo hamesha hua sab se pahle shahid
sab se pahle wo suli pe chadhta raha

jin taqazon ne us ko diya tha janam
un ki aaghosh mein phir samaya na wo

khun mein wed gunje hue
aur jabin par farozan azan

aur sine pe raqsan salib
be-jhijhak sab ke qabu mein aaya na wo

hath mein us ke kya tha jo deta hamein
sirf ek kil us kil ka ek nishan

nashsha-e-mai koi chiz hai
ek ghadi do ghadi ek raat

aur hasil wahi dard-e-sar
us ne zindan mein lekin piya tha jo zahr

uth ke sine se baitha na is ka dhuan