Manzar yun tha

sham ruKHsat ho chuki thi
ehsas ke talwon ko sahla kar

kitna sukun mila tha
tab nange panw

ghas par chalne ko baDa dil chaha
ki achanak

raat aai
siyah kafan mein apna munh chhupae

aur
be-tartib shab-o-roz ke darmiyan

Tangi hui algani par
majbur zindagi

apne kartab dikhlane lagi
aur raat

jis tarah
aasman par aawara baadalon ke TukDe

chandni se aThkheliyan karte hue
sharminda ho jate hain

raat usi tarah
mere jism ke nasheb-o-faraaz se guzarti hui

sharminda ho gai
sham ruKHsat ho chuki thi