aaj tariki-e-shab had siwa lagti hai
jaane kya baat hui hai ki ghutan hoti hai

go ki ek umr guzari hai isi zindan mein
nim-tarik se is gosha-e-viran se meri

aisa lagta hai ki derina shanasai hai
us ki diwaron pe likkhe hain kai afsane

jin mein dil-gir tamannaon ki gahrai hai
us ki be-jaan zamin ne meri aankhon mein bahut

khushk sine ke liye aab-e-baqa paya hai
us ki makhdush shikasta si chhaton ne aksar

shab dhale nala-e-dil-gir ko dohraya hai
usi zindan ke rauzan ne sahar ke qisse

mehrban ho ke mere haal pe dohrae hain
ab ye aalam hai ki gardan ka hai hamraaz ye tauq

bediyan hain mere pairon ki saheli ab to
ab to zanjir ki jhankar mein lutf aata hai

ab ye parwana rihai ka jala do to sahi
usi zindan ko meri qabr bana do to sahi

taq ki sham-e-talluq bhi bujhao to sahi
us se kah do ki rihai nahin hone wali

mujh mein zindan mein judai nahin hone wali
lazzat-e-wasl use ab nahin milne wali

dil gai raat sahar ab nahin hone wali