shaakh-dar-shaakh hoti hai zakhmi — Indira Varma

tumhaare binaa sab adhure hain jaanaan
sabaa phuul khush-bu chaman raushni rang

ye shafaq chaand sitaare nahin achchhe lagte
tum nahin ho to nazaare nahin achchhe lagte

yahi fasaana rahaa hai junun ke sahraa mein
kabhi firaaq ke qisse kabhi visaal ki baat

vaqt khaamosh hai TuuTe hue rishton ki tarah
vo bhalaa kaise mire dil ki khabar paaegaa

shikasta-dil andheri shab akelaa raahbar kyuun ho
na ho jab ham-safar koi to apnaa bhi safar kyuun ho

kitaab-e-zist kaa unvaan ban gae ho tum
hamaare pyaar ki dekho ye intihaa saahab

na tum hosh mein ho na ham hosh mein hain
chalo mai-kade mein vahin baat hogi

sau fasaad ek ishq mein uTThe
boyaa ik tukhm uge hazaar darakht

khudaa ke haath hai biknaa na biknaa mai kaa ai saaqi
baraabar masjid-e-jaame ke ham ne ab dukaan rakh di

zindagi zor hai ravaani kaa
kyaa thamegaa bahaav paani kaa

tumhaari yaad nikalti nahin mire dil se
nasha chhalaktaa nahin hai sharaab se baahar

'ghaalib' chhuTi sharaab par ab bhi kabhi kabhi
piitaa huun roz-e-abr o shab-e-maahtaab mein