Khaamosh aasmaan ke udte lafz,
Wo chilchilahat parindo ki,
Wo khushnuma fizaein,
Bebas patton ki thakaan,
Pighla gaye sab dil ko,
Na jaane kya thi wo chupi taakat,
Jo le chali saath apne, chhod saahil ko.
Thi kya uss nazaare ki chahat mujhse,
Tha bekhabar iss baat se,
Bas chal diya pravaah ke saath,
Daale taano ke haatho mein haath.
Aankh mein ek chamak thi,
Kandhe pe manzil ka bojh tha,
Main maano unn kirno ki aad mein base,
Ek naye jahan ka khoj tha.
Saamne tha wo aag ka dariya,
Kheech raha tha chir wah mujhe,
Lehron mein main dorr-sa bandh gaya,
Gaanth milni thi jaise rahai ki mujhe.
Le chali ja rahi thi dharaein,
Ashajanak thi dosti unki,
Bikhri thi pehle jo saanse,
Sanlagn ho rahi thi jaan kar haal mere khoye man ki.
Baahon mein ab nayi zindagi mili,
Chhod aaya tha main sab apna,
Tha nigaaho mein mahaz ab,
Loh-se pighalne ka sapna.
Maanda ho raha tha srijan se apne,
Raag bhi dil ki chhutne se lagi,
Palat kar lamho ki taraf dekha,
Shayad wah galti rahi meri,
Par tan mein na jaane kis ehsaas ki dhara behne lagi.
Wah dariya aag ka,
Meri raah dekhta reh gaya,
Aaj bhi anjaan hai zameen-aasmaan,
Mere ant se,
Main kis niwaas ki taraf beh gaya?
Na milan hua manzil se,
Na basera hua phir saahil pe,
Par le aaya tha main laakh aabhaas,
Hazaar khushiyon ke bore,
Samundar le aaya umeed ke,
Amar vaasno ki hilore.
