ye ajab sā.at-e-ruḳhsat hai ki Dar lagtā hai
shahr kā shahr mujhe raḳht-e-safar lagtā hai

raat ko ghar se nikalte hue Dar lagtā hai
chāñd dīvār pe rakkhā huā sar lagtā hai

ham ko dil ne nahīñ hālāt ne nazdīk kiyā
dhuup meñ duur se har shaḳhs shajar lagtā hai

jis pe chalte hue sochā thā ki lauT ā.ūñgā
ab vo rasta bhī mujhe shahr-badar lagtā hai

mujh se to dil bhī mohabbat meñ nahīñ ḳharch huā
tum to kahte the ki is kaam meñ ghar lagtā hai

vaqt lafzoñ se banā.ī huī chādar jaisā
oḌh letā huuñ to sab ḳhvāb hunar lagtā hai

is zamāne meñ to itnā bhī ġhanīmat hai miyāñ
koī bāhar se bhī darvesh agar lagtā hai

apne shajre ki vo tasdīq karā.e jā kar
jis ko zanjīr pahante hue Dar lagtā hai

ek muddat se mirī maañ nahīñ soī 'tābish'
maiñ ne ik baar kahā thā mujhe Dar lagtā hai

ye ajab saat-e-ruKHsat hai ki Dar lagta hai
shahr ka shahr mujhe raKHt-e-safar lagta hai

raat ko ghar se nikalte hue Dar lagta hai
chand diwar pe rakkha hua sar lagta hai

hum ko dil ne nahin haalat ne nazdik kiya
dhup mein dur se har shaKHs shajar lagta hai

jis pe chalte hue socha tha ki lauT aaunga
ab wo rasta bhi mujhe shahr-badar lagta hai

mujh se to dil bhi mohabbat mein nahin KHarch hua
tum to kahte the ki is kaam mein ghar lagta hai

waqt lafzon se banai hui chadar jaisa
oDh leta hun to sab KHwab hunar lagta hai

is zamane mein to itna bhi ghanimat hai miyan
koi bahar se bhi darwesh agar lagta hai

apne shajre ki wo tasdiq karae ja kar
jis ko zanjir pahante hue Dar lagta hai

ek muddat se meri man nahin soi 'tabish'
main ne ek bar kaha tha mujhe Dar lagta hai

Source: Book : Ishq Abaad (kulliyat) (Pg. 207)