khunuk hawa ka barahna hathon se zard mathe se
pahla pahla mukalima hai

abhi ye din-raat sard-mehri ke itne khugar nahin hue hain
to phir ye be-wazn subh kyun bojh ban rahi hai

sawad-e-aghaz-e-khushk-sali mein kyun waraq bhigne laga hai
dhuan dhuan sham ke alaw mein koi jangal jale

ki ruthi hui tamanna
khizan ka pani koi ishaara nahin samajhta

ye nahr ab tak purane pahre mein chal rahi hai
ajib tasir aakhir-e-shab ke aasman ki

hawa chale ya zamin ghume
fasil kohre ki koi suraj nahin giraata

zamin se malba gae dinon ka koi sitara nahin uthata
tawil raaten ki mukhtasar din

kasir wade qalil umren
abas hisab-o-shumar us ka jo gosht is sal nakhunon se juda hua hai

sikudte lamhe ki ek sarhad se ta-ba-hadd-e-digar wahi kar-e-satr-poshi
wo mu-e-tan ho ki tar-e-pamba ki baal-o-par aks-e-aina ke

har ek katran pe zardiyan bantne darakhton ke faisle hain
udas patta

khizan ka pani nae maani nahin samajhta
so nahr ab tak purane pahre mein chal rahi hai