main tere shahar mein phirta hi raha sargardan
shah-rahon ke har ek mod pe hairan hairan

aabla-pa jigar afgar karan ta-ba-karan
isi ummid pe shayad ki koi pahchane

justuju ek bagule ke anasir chhane
shauq-e-ruswa ki pazirai ke hun afsane

lekin is shahr-e-sitam-pesha mein kuchh bhi na hua
meri jaanib koi gul-posh daricha na khula

kisi aanchal kisi badli ki na umdi chhaya
na koi dast-e-saba tha na kahin bu-e-habib

baam-dar-baam thi be-mehr nigahon ki salib
har jharoke mein thi ek sham mah-o-khur ki raqib

sail-e-wahshat ko chhupae mein guzarta hi raha
ek be-rabt fasana tha bikharta hi raha

dahna-e-waqt rag-o-pai mein utarta hi raha
aakhir ek ku-e-malamat mein qadam aa pahunche

nawak andazon ke andaz mein gham aa pahunche
khair-maqdam ko safiran-e-sitam aa pahunche

phenk kar chashm-e-faramosh ka pahla patthar
tu ne bas ghurfa-e-ummid se dekha chhup kar

ek diwane pe pathraw ka khuni manzar
sang uthte hi rahe hath lapakte hi rahe

aankh roti hi rahi sharm-e-shanasai ko
kisi laila ki taraf se ye munadi na hui

koi patthar se na mare mere saudai ko