raqs ki raat kisi ghamza-e-uryan ki kiran
is liye ban na saki rah-e-tamanna ki dalil
ki abhi duur kisi des men ik nanha charagh
jis se tanvir mire sina-e-gham-nak men hai
timtimata hai is andeshe men shayad ki sahar ho jaae
aur koi laut ke aa hi na sake!
raqs ki raat koi daur-e-tarab
ban na sakta tha sitaron ki khudai gardish?
mehvar-e-hal bhi ho, jada-e-ainda bhi
aur donon men vo paivastati-e-shauq bhi ho
jo kabhi sahil o dariya men na thii,
phir bhi haail rahe yuun buad-e-azim
lab hilen aur sukhan aghaz na ho
haath badh jaaen magar lamisa be-jan rahe?
tujhe maalum nahin,
ab bhi har subh dariche men se yuun jhankta huun
jaise tuute hue takhte se koi tiira nasib
sakht tufan men hasrat se ufuq ko dekhe:
kaash ubhar aae kahin se vo safina jo mujhe
is gham-e-marg-e-tah-e-ab se azad kare
raqs ki shab ki mulaqat se itna to hua
daman-e-zist se main aaj bhi vabasta huun,
lekin is takhta-e-nazuk se ye ummid kahan
ki ye chashm-o-lab-e-sahil ko kabhi chuum sake,