main zinda tha
magar main tere surkh nil-gun safed bulbule mein qaid tha

hawa wasia thi magar hudud se riha na thi
na mere par shikasta the na meri sans kam

tha bulbule ki kaenat mein mera hi dam-qadam
magar meri udan surkh nil-gun safed maqbare ke

aakhiri khutut se siwa na thi
main haal ke athah paniyon mein gharq

ya guzashta waqt ke bhanwar ke dast-e-atishin mein ek said-e-zard tha
to main ne kya kiya

ki apni sans rok kar ke, aankhen mich kar ke sar ko aage kar ke
shanon ko jhatak ke

ek jast mein hi jast ki si sard chhat ko tod kar
main us ke par ho gaya

tilism se sada uthi: hamen shikast ho gai
shikast ho gai kast ho gai ast ho gai

to gai o gai
shab-e-baraat

aatishin tamashon ka saman
utha ke meri bachchiyon ne na-gahan

pachas paise ke anar ke labon pe ek qatra nar rakh di
khak ko ye garm bosa kab nasib tha!

anar mein jo qaid tha jo zarra zarra said tha
wo jin ubal pada

siyahiyan safed surkh nil-gun tuyur se chamak uthin
magar na jaane phir kidhar tuyur ud gae

anar ko shab-e-baraat ne nadi mein dafn kar diya
sada-e-bazgasht qatra qatra kankaron ki tarah gharq ho gai

tilism rah gaya magar tilism mein jo qaid tha
wo us sada ke sath kho gaya