Haal bura hai aye shayar,
Apne khoye andaaz ki talaash hai
Dil mein zara na-umeedi hai
Par labon pe aaj bhi ‘kaash’ hai

Tumhara pata dhundte hai aksar,
Meri diary ke khaali safhe (pages)
Tumhe mehsus kiye arsaa hua
Berukhi hai shayad, ho ab khamosh rehte

Ehsaaso ko khabar nahi hai iski,
Kayi martaba lafzon ko taraste hai aajkal
Khud ko jataane ki khwahish liye,
Alfazon ki talab hai ab har pal

Hum gamon ke saaye mein nahi jeetey,
Josh zara jad-o-jehad karta hai jab,
Raasta farebi ka chunkar
Ghalibo ki shayari padh lete hai tab

Bas ek ehsaas ne bagavat kar diya,
Usey udhaar ki shayari manzoor nahi,
Kehta hai, ” main kaaynaat mein sabse khubsurat hoon”
Bemisaal hoon main, yunhi mashoor nahi

Kayi zindagiyon ki surat badli hai,
Haan, kayion ko tabaah bhi kiya hai,
Par kasoor mera zara bhi nahi
Har insaan ne mujhe naya matlab diya hai

Mujhe rooh mein sambhaale rakhte ho,
Kabhi mere wajood ko bayaan karke dekho,
Apne shayar ko wapas paoge
Main ishq hoon, mujhe azaad karke dekho

Hosla afzaayi kuch aisi huyi,
Nikal parrey diary ke panney sajaane,
Kaafi mashakkat ki zaroor hai
Apne shayar ko fir se paane ke bahaane

Yeh lafz bikhre hi kyun na ho,
Inme dhaar zara kam hi kyun na ho,
Muddaton baad iss qalam ko manzil mili hai,
Iska iss dil ko gumaa fir kyun na ho