Ruh-e-awara

yas-KHez subhon se

be-sukun shamon se

bhagne ki kawish ne

kitni rahguzaron ke

pech-o-KHam ke jalwon se

aashna karaya hai

dar-ba-dar phiraya hai

jaane kab ye hosh aaya

subh-o-sham be-mani

be-sukun-e-be-ummid

phir to silsila nikla

lamha-ha-e-kawish ka

chain kho gaya din ka

nind uD gai shab ki

justuju ka ye chakkar

khinch le gaya har pal

jaane kis taraf lekin

har qadam hua ehsas

main gunah karta hun

umr kyun ganwata hun

kawishon ka kya hasil

har qadam sameTe hain

KHar na-umidi ke

ek din ka qissa hai

chalte chalte pahuncha hun

ek jagah jo viran thi

kuchh daraKHt phaile the

ja-ba-ja pareshan se

ek daraKHt par gidh the

intizar mein baiThe

aur maqbare the kuchh

pur-sukun tha mahaul

dil-pasand tha behad

jaane kyun ye lagta tha

apni subh shamon se

apni be-sukuni se

apni na-umidi se

chhuTne ka waqt aaya

pai-ba-pai har ek lamha

hosh ho rahe the gham

aur dil ko lagta tha

zist wahm ho jaise

KHwab ya ki afsana

dafatan uThi ek chiKH

ruh tak taDap uTThi

chiKH jaane kis ki hai

hae ye to meri hai

aur barq ki surat

main wahan se palTa hun

is KHamosh aalam se

be-KHudi ki duniya se

jab palaT ke dekha hai

ruh muskuraati thi

meri ruh-e-awara

aur hasin lagti thi