ek khasta-haal kutiya mein
zindagi khamosh sang ki manind

bujhi-bujhi aankhen
na khwab na khwahish

na dil mein dard ki khushbu
na hont par naghme

udas faza
‘ifrit ke sae hain

ababilon ke jism se chipki
ye raat chalti hai

aur shabnam bhi
aansuon ki qindilen

saja kar rah takti hai
tamam pagdandi

jugnuon se khali hai
zard patte bhi

khamushi mein lipte hain
aur rahi hai ki ek muddat se

idhar nahin aaya