raqs ki raat kisi ghamza-e-uryan ki kiran
is liye ban na saki rah-e-tamanna ki dalil

ki abhi dur kisi des mein ek nanha charagh
jis se tanwir mere sina-e-gham-nak mein hai

timtimata hai is andeshe mein shayad ki sahar ho jae
aur koi laut ke aa hi na sake!

raqs ki raat koi daur-e-tarab
ban na sakta tha sitaron ki khudai gardish?

mehwar-e-haal bhi ho, jada-e-ainda bhi
aur donon mein wo paiwastati-e-shauq bhi ho

jo kabhi sahil o dariya mein na thi,
phir bhi hail rahe yun buad-e-azim

lab hilen aur sukhan aaghaz na ho
hath badh jaen magar lamisa be-jaan rahe?

tujhe malum nahin,
ab bhi har subh dariche mein se yun jhankta hun

jaise tute hue takhte se koi tera nasib
sakht tufan mein hasrat se ufuq ko dekhe:

kash ubhar aae kahin se wo safina jo mujhe
is gham-e-marg-e-tah-e-ab se aazad kare

raqs ki shab ki mulaqat se itna to hua
daman-e-zist se main aaj bhi wabasta hun,

lekin is takhta-e-nazuk se ye ummid kahan
ki ye chashm-o-lab-e-sahil ko kabhi chum sake,