kya tamasha hai tamasha-gar tamasha ban gae
kya samajhte the unhen hum aur wo kya ban gae

kyon na mar jaen marizan-e-mohabbat rashk se
jo kabhi bimar the wo khud masiha ban gae

un ke charche daur-e-hazir ki sunahri dastan
apne qisse ahd-e-mazi ka fasana ban gae

ab koi dekhe to kya samjhe to kya soche to kya
jalwe uth kar dida-e-hairan ka parda ban gae

jaan kar apna sar aankhon par bithaya tha jinhen
jaan ke dushman wahi jaan-e-tamanna ban gae

mukhtasar hoga 'rishi' kyunkar bayan-e-ashiqi
haal kya kya ho gae ahwal kya kya ban gae