khujuron se mahki hui sham thi
shutur par mal o asbab tha aur main ek sarae ke dar par khada

raat karne ko ek boriye ka talabgar tha
timtimati hui shama ki lau mein ibn-e-tamama ka saya

(jo mahaul ghere hue tha)
use dekh kar yun laga jaise wo raushni phankta ho

qawi-ul-jasamat
haris aankh se lahza lahza tapakti kamini khushi

bhaw-taw mein choukas choukas
asa aur latki hui rish

(do azdahon ki tarah)
wo sarae ki gandi faza ko mahakta hua khuld kahta

musafir diram aur dinar de kar wahan khwab karte
mujhe umm-e-laila ki farmaish kha gai hain

zamane ka shutur aan pahuncha hai aise kuon tak jahan tel hai
main magar

aaj bhi is sarae mein ibn-e-tamama se baaten kiye ja raha hun
abhi umm-e-laila ki kuchh hasraten aur bhi hain