pa-barhana-o-sarasima sa ek jamm-e-ghafir
apne hathon mein liye mashal-e-be-shoala-o-dud

muztarib ho ke gharondon se nikal aaya hai
jaise ab tod hi dalega ye barson ka jumud

un papoton mein ye pathrai hui si aankhen
jin mein farda ka koi khwab ujagar hi nahin

kaise dhundengi dar-zist kahan dhundengi
un ko wo tishnagi-e-shauq mayassar hi nahin

jaise sadiyon ke chatanon pe tarashe hue but
ek diwane musawwir ki tabiat ka ubaal

nachte nachte ghaaron se nikal aae hon
aur wapas inhin ghaaron mein ho jaane ka khayal

zindagi apne darichon mein hai mushtaq abhi
aur ye raqs-e-tilismana ke rangin sae

us ki nazron ko diye jate hain paiham dhoke
jaise bas aankh jhapakne mein wo ud kar aae

shahpar-e-maut kisi ghul-e-bayaban ki tarah
qahqahe bharta hai khamosh fazaon mein sada

kanpte kanpte ek bar simat jati hai
ek tarik sa parda yunhi aawezan raha

koi darwaze pe dastak hai na qadmon ka nishan
chand pur-haul se asrar tah-e-saya-e-dar

khud hi sargoshiyan karte hain koi jaise kahe
phir palat aae ye kam-bakht wahi sham-o-sahar

nachta rahta hai darwaze ke bahar ye hujum
apne hathon mein liye mashal-e-be-shoala-o-dud

zindagi apne darichon mein hai mushtaq abhi
kya khabar tod hi de badh ke koi qufl-e-jumud