Lamha bhar guzrey aur shamah pigalti rahey,

Meiz par baithey do saaye roo-ba-ru…

 

Haatho me apni taqdeer liye, ungliyaa thirakti,

Bezubaan baatey khoob hoti rahe yu…

 

Josh-e-jawani gaa rahi taraane, aik aalam;

Doosri jaanib budhapa le raha tha chhu…

 

Labh siley huve they, be-tabassum khamoshi,

Zindagi ka wo maqaam kaun sa, aur kyu?

 

Dehleez se kadam uthkar mudh gaye they,

Kis shaqal me uss roz thi tamanna aur aarzu…

 

Meiz par shayad nigaho ki kitaab thi padhni,

Lekin wo silsila huva khatam bina kiye koi gufta-gu…

 

Dilchaspi kya uss shaqas me thi ya fir koi fitoor,

Kyu awaara si ho rahi thi andar chhupi huvi rooh?

 

Meiz bhi sochta raha hoga iss se behtar na aaye hote…

Na baat huvi na shayari, sab kuchh jyu ka tyu…

 

Sahi kaha tha unhoone, “Aur kya baate?”

Umar hoti hai, ho gayi, fir kyu doond raha khushbu?

 

Jhaank ke dekh apne andar kyu raat sa andhera hai,

Kaun si bechaini hai, kaisi hai justa-ju…

 

Bhuj gayi wo shamah jisne maahol kiya tha roshan,

Saaye bus khwaab they, apne raah nikal ab tu…