waqt katib hai to mistar chehre
jab se tahrir-shanasi meri taqdir hui

wo maani pas-e-alfaz nazar aate hain
jin ko pahchan ke dil darta hai

aur har chehre se
ek hi chehra ubhar aata hai

jo mera chehra hai
aur imroz ka aaina ye kahta hai ki dekh

aadmi-zade teri umar ki sham aa pahunchi
sar pe ab rakh utar aai hai

barf kanpatiyon par
sal-ha-sal ke aalam se chehra jaise

waraq-e-khasta pe pechida lakiron ka hujum
harf-e-ummid-o-raja

dagh-e-girya ki girah mein gum hai
naqsh umangon ke tamannaon ke

dukh ke dhabbon ne daba rakkhe hain
aaj ek umr ke aadarsh ki taswir jo dhundlai hai

us ki tohmat
meri kam-koshi ke sar aai hai

meri khamoshi ke sar aai hai
lafz zanjir hua

khauf-e-darban hai tazabzub zindan
zindagi jabr-e-musalsal ke sabab

sar-nigun sayon ka sahra-e-sukut
ab kharabaat mein khakistar-e-khwab

dhundhti phirti hai hone ka subut
wo bhi the jo inhin dushwar guzargahon se

mishal-e-harf liye parcham-e-himmat thame
apne khwabon ke taaqub mein rawan

be-khatar jaan se guzar jate the
main yahan sard salakhon se laga takta hun

is bayaban mein bhi kuchh khwabon ke rasiya chehre
parcham-e-harf liye nikle hain

dar raha hun ki agar jaan se na guzre
to tazabzub ke siyah zindan mein

wo meri tarah pashiman honge