jab raat bhig jati hai
to us ka nam

kor-basar khwabon ke sukhe labon tak pahunchta hai
aur tishna-kaam khwabon ka dam tutne se zara pahle

un ko zindagi ki nawed sunata hai
khwab jab maut ke dahane se palat kar aate hain

to zindagi un ke rag-o-pai mein surat se daudti hai
mahmez-e-shauq mein wo apni be-basari ko faramosh kiye

tez-raftari ki aakhiri mumkina had ko chhute hue
tabir ki manzil tak pahunchna chahte hain

maut ka saham un ke aasab shal kiye deta hai
be-basari unhen nazar nazar bhatkati hai

zindagi ki be-sabaati ka khauf
dew-haikal jallad ki surat mujassam ho kar

un ki shah-rag dabochne ke darpe hota hai
wo jaante hain

ki chah kar bhi is giraft se
der tak aur dur tak aazad nahin rah sakte

usi khauf ke zer-e-asar
mayassar waqt mein

wo sadiyon ko lamhon mein ji lena chahte hain
aur lamhon se sadiyan kashid karna chahte hain