Faqat harf-e-tamanna kya hai

sham raushan thi sunahri thi
magar utri chali aati thi

zina zina
aa ke phir ruk si gai

shab ki munDeron ke qarin
ek sitara bhi kahin sath hi jhuk aaya tha

jaise wo chhune ko tha kanon ke baale us ke
gesuon ko bhi ki the ruKH ke hawale us ke

kuhniyan Teke hue ek dhaDakti hui diwar pe wo
khilkhilate hue kuchh mujh se kahe jati thi

us ka aahang-e-suKHan munfarid lahn-e-kalam
zamzame phuTte the jis se shagufon ki tarah

jhil pe panchhi koi pankh sanware jaise
sur ki lahron pe koi dil ko pukare jaise

sanwle chehre pe wo kanon ke baale ki damak
naz-e-be-ja bhi na tha ruKH pe tfaKHur ki jhalak

itni pur-nur thin wo aankhen ki guman hota tha
jaise KHurshid abhi Dub ke ubhrega unhin aankhon se

lekin is sham un aankhon se achanak TuTe
do sitare jo larazte rahe ta-der larazte hi rahe

jaise kahte hon ki is sham-e-gurezan ka bharosa kya hai
dil na chahe to faqat harf-e-tamanna kiya hai