koi patta bhi nahin hilta, na pardon mein hai jumbish
phir bhi kanon mein bahut tez hawaon ki sada hai

kitne unche hain ye mehrab mahal ke
aur mehrabon se uncha wo sitaron se bhara thaal falak ka

kitna chhota hai mera qad
farsh par jaise kisi harf se ek nuqta gira ho

sainkadon samton mein bhatka hua man thahre zara
dil dhadakta hai to bas daudti tapon ki sada aati hai

raushni band bhi kar dene se kya hoga andhera?
sirf aankhen hi nahin dekh sakengi ye chaugarda, main agar kanon mein kuchh thuns bhi lun

raushni chinta ki to zehn se ab bujh nahin sakti
khud-kashi ek andhera hai, upae to nahin

khidkiyan sari khuli hain to hawa kyun nahin aati?
niche sardi hai bahut aur hawa tund hai shayad

dur darwaze ke bahar khade wo santari donon
sham se aag mein bas sukhi hui tahniyon ko jhonk rahe hain

meri aankhon se wo sukha hua dhancha nahin girta
jism hi jism to tha, ruh kahan thi us mein

kodh tha us ko tap-e-diq tha? na jaane kya tha?
ya budhapa hi tha shayad

pisliyan sukhe hue kekaron ke shakhche jaise
rath pe jate hue dekha tha

chatanon se udhar
apni lathi pe gire ped ki manind khada tha

phir yaka-yak ye hua
sarthi, rok nahin paya tha, munh-zor samay ki tapen

rath ke pahiye ke tale dekha tadap kar ise thanda hote!
khud-kashi thi? wo samarpan tha? wo durghatna thi?

kya tha?
sabz shadab darakhton ke wajud

apne mausam mein to bin mange bhi phal dete hain
sukh jate hain to sab kat ke

is aag mein hi jhonk diye jate hain
jaise darwaze pe aamal ke wo donon farishte

sham se aag mein bas
sukhi hui tahniyon ko jhonk rahe hain