Nafrat ke darr se khayaalon ko chhupaata reh gaya.
Chaahat ki chaahat ko yun hi thukraataa reh gaya.

Himmat ki himmat se rukh modte hue
falsafon mein khud ko dubaata reh gaya.

Maidaan-e-mehfil mein utarne ka darr
mujhko bas hazireen banaata reh gaya.

Na-pasand na ho is baat ka khauf
manzoori mein sehmati dilaata reh gaya.

Kahin koi kamzori dekh na le,
andheron mein khud ko chhupaata reh gaya;

Sar-e-aam khaamiyon par roshni na pad jaaye,
mai raaton se dil lagaata reh gaya.

- Abdullah Alam