zindagani shikaston ka ambar hai

kya huin wahshaton ki jawan wadiyan
main kahan tha tamannaon ke pasban
ai dil-e-gham-zada main kahan aa gaya
main ne chaha tha lekin na chaha tha yun


inqalab itna afsurda itna hazin
hae ai meri hasrat-zada justuju
kyon teri kawishon ko zawal aa gaya
mere qadmon se manus rah-e-junun


ai faza ki tamanna-shikan khamushi
kis tarah mud gai kis jagah kho gai
kya hue aaj afkar ke karwan
jin ke sae nigahon se manus the


zulmaton ke dayaron ko kya ho gaya
jin se thin aashna meri tanhaiyan
dil kahan aarzuon ka madfan liye
koi jae bhi aakhir to jae kahan


mera josh-e-safar meri be-bakiyan
wo bayaban-nawardi ki aazadiyan
wo takhayyul ki ek kaenat-e-hasin
wo tasawwur ka aalam wo sargoshiyan


lamha lamha wo ghatte hue fasle
meri raftar par naqsh-e-hairat bane
manzilon ke fasurda-nazar silsile
aaj kyon mere mazi ki taqdir hain


aaj main hun jahan hai aur afsurdagi
bazm-e-hasti ki nala-kunan mahfilen
yas ki wadiyan dard ki majlisen
har qadam par irada-shikan hadse


har nazar mein alam-posh khamoshiyan
aise ghamnak aalam mein ghabra ke phir
kya tajjub agar aaj dil man le
zindagani shikaston ka ambar hai