in darakhton ke gahre ghane, khwab-alud sae mein
khamosh, hairan chalta hua ek rasta

kisi dur ki raushni ki taraf ja raha hai
yahan se jo dekho to jaise kahin hadd-e-imkan talak

gum-shuda waqt jaisi andheri gupha hai
yahan se jo dekho to

ummid jaisa bahut hairat-afza ajab silsila hai
jo is tang, tarik nuqte se

mumkin ke manind, ek raushni-zad qarye ki jaanib khula hai
faza mein kahin nil-gun sabz, halke sunahre

kahin bas hare hi hare sakht gahre
bahut unghte dolte rang

sukhe hue surkh patton ke manind
us be-aman raste par pade hain

kiran bhuli-bhatki koi
un se aa kar achanak jo milne lagi hai

to yak-bargi chaunk kar sab damakne lage hain
andhere ki is hadd-e-imkan talak

tang, gahri gupha mein
sabhi yaad ke jugnuon ki tarah

udte udte chamakne lage hain
yahan se jo dekho to

nadida manzil ki mauhum hairat se
aankhen, har ek khwab ki nim wa hain

tamannaon ke dil dhadakne lage hain!