mai-e-taza-o-nab hasil nahin hai
to kar lunga durd-e-tah-e-jam pi kar guzara!
mujhe ek nau-ras kali ne
ye taana diya thaa:
tiri umr ka ye taqaza hai
tu aise phulon ka bhonra bane
jin men do chaar din ki mahak rah gai ho
ye sach hai vo tasvir
jis ke sabhi rang dhundla gae hon
nae rang us men bhare kaun la kar
nae rang laae kahan se?
tire asman kaa,
main ik taaza varid sitara sahi
janta huun ki, is asman par
bahut chand, suraj, sitare ubhar kar
jo ik baar duube to ubhre nahin hain
faramosh-gari ke niile ufuq se,
unhi ki tarah main bhi
na-tajarba-kar insan ki himmat se aage badha huun,
jo aage badha huun,
to dil men havas ye nahin hai
ki ab se hazaron baras baad ki dastanon men
zinda ho ik baar phir naam mera!
ye sham-e-dil-avez to ik bahana hai,
ik koshish-e-na-tavan hai
shabab-e-gurezan ko jaate hue rokne ki
vagarna hai kaafi mujhe ek pal ka sahara,
huun ik taaza varid, musibat ka maara
main kar lunga durd-e-tah-e-jam pi kar guzara!