Ke zindagi teri zulfoN ki narm cha’aoo mein
guzarne paati to shaadaab (delightful) ho bhi sakti thi
yeh teergi (darkness) jo meri zist (life) ka muqaddar hai
teri nazar ki shua’ aoo (rays, beams) mein kho bhi sakti thi
Ajab na tha ke mein begana-e-alam ho kar
tere jamaal ki ra'naaiyoN mein kho rehta
tera gudaaz badan teri neem-baar aaNkhe
inhee haseen fasaanoN mein mahoo rehta
Pukaarti mujhe jab talkhiyaaN zamaane ki
tere laboN se halaawat ke ghooNt pi leta
hayaat cheekhti phirtee barhana-sar, aur mein
ghaneri zulfoN ke saaye mein chup ke ji leta
Magar yeh ho na saka aur ab yeh aalam hai
ke tu nahi, tera gham, teri justajoo bhi nahi
guzar rahi hai kuch is tarah zindagi jaise
isse kisi ke sahaare ki aarzoo bhi nahi
Na koi jaadah manzil, na roshni ka suraagh
bhatak rahi hai andheroN mein zindagi meri
inhi andheroN mein reh jaooNgaa kabhi kho kar
mein jaanta hoon meri hum-nafas, magar yuNhi
Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aata hai....
