mu-qalam, saaz gul-e-taza thirakte paanv
baat kahne ke bahane hain bahut
aadmi kis se magar baat kare?
baat jab hila-e-taqrib-e-mulaqat na ho
aur rasai ki hamesha se hai kotah-kamand
baat ki ghayat-e-ghayat na ho!
ek zarra kaf-e-khakistar ka
sharar-e-jasta ke manind kabhi
kisi an-jani tamanna ki khalish se masrur
apne siine ke dahakte hue tannur ki lau se majbur
ek zarra ki hamesha se hai khud se mahjur
kabhi nairang-e-sada ban ke jhalak uthta hai
aab o rang o khat o mehrab ka paivand kabhi
aur banta hai maani ka khudavand kabhi
vo khudavand jo pa-basta-e-anat na ho!
isi ik zarre ki tabani se
kisi soe hue raqqas ke dast-o-pa men
kaanp uthte hain mah-o-sal ke niile girdab
isi ik zarre ki hairani se
sher ban jaate hain ik kuza-gar-e-pir ke khvab
isi ik zarra-e-la-fani se
khisht-e-be-maya ko milta hai davam
bam-o-dar ko vo sahar jis ki kabhi raat na ho!
aadmi kis se magar baat kare?
mu-qalam, saaz gul-e-taza thirakte paanv
aadmi sochta rah jaata hai,
is qadar baar kahan, kis ke liye, kaise uthaun
aur phir kis ke liye baat karun?