kali, jagmagati, nirali raaten
ras bhari, madmati raaten

raat ki rani khushbu se bhari
taron ki maddham nurani chhanw mein

halki thandi raaten
baisakhi hawaon

sarangi ki lambi alkaski siskiyon
pyar ke raazon se bojhal

kahani raaten
kahan kho gain hain ya-rab?

kho jaen
to phir kho jaen

lekin wo man-mohak ghadiyan
khun mein jaise ghul si gai hain

wo ladkhadate, adhure, na-mukammal jumle
ab bhi saf sunai dete hain

abaruon palkon mathe ki shiknon ke
banke tirchhe pal pal badalte zawie

jo kya kya kuchh kahte the
dikhai dete hain

wo nit-nai anokhi be-intiha khushiyan
maujud bhi hain zinda bhi

lekin dard-o-alam ki maujen ban kar
dil ke goshe goshe mein phail gai hain

ye to suna hai zahr kabhi amrit ban jata hai
lekin jab amrit khud zahrila ho jae

phir aakhir koi kaise jiye?