dekhne mein gulab tha wo shakhs
ru-kash-e-aftab tha wo shakhs

khud-nigar khud-numa khuda jaisa
tantana tha itab tha wo shakhs

dil mein kuchh tha zaban par kuchh tha
phir bhi kya kaamyab tha wo shakhs

be-talab thi kabhi ata us ki
be-sabab ka itab tha wo shakhs

gah sanjida gah khandida
ek muamma janab tha wo shakhs

aap apni misal tha goya
aap apna jawab tha wo shakhs

chaal mastana aankh mai-khana
mai-kade ka shabab tha wo shakhs

fitna-gar tha magar ba-faiz-e-zaban
nara-e-inqilab tha wo shakhs

roghan-e-qaz tha bahut arzan
bakhshish-e-be-hisab tha wo shakhs

mushtail jaise aatish-e-sozan
aur kabhi ju-e-ab tha wo shakhs

us mein simab jaise pinhan tha
mustaqil iztirab tha wo shakhs

phir hua yun ki jazr-o-mad ke sabab
nazr-e-tufan-e-ab tha wo shakhs

bijliyon ka shabab tha wo shakhs
ru-kash-e-aftab tha wo shakhs

us ko dekho to dekhte rah jao
khub-ru be-hisab tha wo shakhs

didani thi shaguftagi us ki
ek mahakta gulab tha wo shakhs

naghma-e-jaan thi har sada us ki
jaise tar-e-rabab tha wo shakhs

manba-e-nur the lab-o-rukhsar
chand suraj ka bab tha wo shakhs

aaina tha wo zat ka apni
aap apna jawab tha wo shakhs

mere paimana-e-mohabbat mein
zindagi ki sharab tha wo shakhs

nichi nazren jhuki hui palken
ek sarapa hijab tha wo shakhs

lafz milte nahin sarapa ko
kis qadar la-jawab tha wo shakhs

ek zamane ke baad kal dekha
phir bhi khilta gulab tha wo shakhs