abhi ham ḳhub-surat hain
hamare jism auraq-e-ḳhizani ho gae hain
aur rida-e-zaḳhm se arasta hain
phir bhi dekho to
hamari ḳhush-numai par koi harf
aur kashida-qamti men ḳham nahin aaya
hamare hont zahrili ruton se kasni hain
aur chehre ratjagon ki shoalagi se
abnusi ho chuke hain
aur zaḳhmi ḳhvab
nadida jaziron ki zamin par
is tarah bikhre pade hain
jis tarah tufan-zada kashti ke tukdon ko
samundar sahilon par phenk deta hai
lahu ki barishen
ya ḳhud-kushi ki ḳhvahishen thiin
is aziyyat ke safar men
kaun sa mausam nahin aaya
magar ankhon men nam
lahje men sam
honton pe koi naghma-e-matam nahin aaya
abhi tak dil hamare
ḳhanda-e-tiflan ki surat be-kudurat hain
abhi ham ḳhub-surat hain
zamane ho gae
ham ku-e-janan chhod aae the
magar ab bhi
bahut se ashna na-ashna hamdam
aur un ki yaad ke manus qasid
aur un ki chahaton ke hijr-name
duur deson se hamari or aate hain
gulabi mausamon ki dhuup
jab naurasta sabze par qadam rakhti hui
ma.mura-e-tan men dar aati hai
tu barfani badan men
ju-e-ḳhun ahistagi se gungunati hai
udasi ka parinda
chup ke jangal men
sar-e-shaḳh-e-nihal-e-gham chahakta hai
koi bhula hua bisra hua dukh
aabla bin kar tapakta hai
to yuun lagta hai
jaise harf apne
zinda avazon ki surat hain
abhi ham ḳhub-surat hain
hamari ḳhush-numai harf-e-haq ki ru-numai hai
usi ḳhatir to ham ashufta-jan
ushshaq ki yadon men rahte hain
ki jo un par guzarti hai vo kahte hain
hamari harf-sazi
ab bhi mahbub-e-jahan hai
shaeri shorid-gan-e-ishq ke vird-e-zaban hai
aur gulabon ki tarah shadan chehre
laal o marjan ki tarah lab
sandalin hathon se
chahat aur aqidat ki bayazon par
hamare naam likhte hain
sabhi dard-ashna
isar mashrab
ham-nafas ahl-e-qafas
jab maqtalon ki samt jaate hain
hamare bait gaate hain
abhi tak naaz karte hain sab ahl-e-qafila
apne hudi-ḳhvanon par ashufta-kalamon par
abhi ham dastaḳhat karte hain apne qatl-namon par
abhi ham asmanon ki amanat
aur zaminon ki zarurat hain
abhi ham ḳhub-surat hain