hazaron arzuen saath hain is par akeli hai
hamari ruuh be-bujhi hui ab tak paheli hai
budhapa ho to ho us rabt men kyuun kar khalal aae
miri yas-o-tamanna bachpane se saath kheli hai
ajal bhi tal gai dekhi gai halat na ankhon se
shab-e-gham men musibat si musibat ham ne jheli hai
adam ka tha safar jab aur kuchh tosha na haath aaya
bahut si aarzu chalte chalate saath le li hai
zara dekho to un utre hue chehron ko phulon ke
maaz-allah jhonka hai khizan ka ya ki seli hai
kabhi jamne na deti be-khudi khatir pe naqsh un ka
ba-mushkil main ne ye tasvir usi ayyar se li hai
hamari aur gulon ki ek hai nashv-o-numa lekin
vahan mutthi men zar hai aur yahan khali hatheli hai
na puchho ‘shad’ virani ko dil ki kya bataun main
tamanna ja chuki hasrat gharib is men akeli hai