be-khudi men pahlu-e-iqrar pahle to na tha
itna ghafil vo but-e-ayyar pahle to na tha
ahl-e-dil jaate hain ab dar-o-rasan ki raah se
is qadar mushkil visal-e-yar pahle to na tha
misr ki galiyan utar aai hain apne shahr men
husn valon ka ye hal-e-zar pahle to na tha
aa rahi hai khud-bakhud shayad koi manzil qarib
mehrban yuun qafila-salar pahle to na tha
us men bhi kuchh raaz hai varna dayar-e-husn men
dard-mandon ka koi gham-khvar pahle to na tha
hosh men aane lage hain un baharon ke tufail
varna divanon ka ye kirdar pahle to na tha
roz-o-shab apne liye hain qatl ke fatve ‘qatil’
mufti-e-shahr is qadar din-dar pahle to na tha