lafz ko ilhām ma.anī ko sharar samjhā thā maiñ
dar-haqīqat aib thā jis ko hunar samjhā thā maiñ

raushnī thī aañkh thī manzar thā phir kuchh bhī na thā
haa.e kis āshob ko apnī nazar samjhā thā maiñ

āsmānoñ ko lapakte haiñ zamīñ-zāde sabhī
murġh-e-ādam-zād ko be-bāl-o-par samjhā thā maiñ

''kun'' kā afsūn-e-azal phūñkā gayā thā jis ghaḌī
mujh ko ab bhī yaad hai bār-e-digar samjhā thā maiñ

hai koii? jo mere is lamhe pe girya kar sake
jab mujhe bilkul samajh na thī magar samjhā thā maiñ

apne bachchoñ kī tarah us ne uḌāyā mujh ko saath
jis havā-e-tund-ḳhū ko dar-ba-dar samjhā thā maiñ

mujh pe farsūda aqā.ed kī ajab yalġhār thī
chhoTe chhoTe vasvasoñ ko ḳhair-o-shar samjhā thā maiñ

regzār-e-shab-gazīda tujh meñ tā-hadd-e-nazar
dhuup kā aaseb thā jis ko shajar samjhā thā maiñ

be-sar-o-sāmāniyoñ kī intihā thī 'ja.afarī'
jab dar-o-dīvār ko dīvār-o-dar samjhā thā maiñ

bāb-e-hairat jab talak khultā liyāqat-'ja.afarī'
qais ko farhād ko āshufta-sar samjhā thā maiñ

lafz ko ilham mani ko sharar samjha tha main
dar-haqiqat aib tha jis ko hunar samjha tha main

raushni thi aankh thi manzar tha phir kuchh bhi na tha
hae kis aashob ko apni nazar samjha tha main

aasmanon ko lapakte hain zamin-zade sabhi
murgh-e-adam-zad ko be-baal-o-par samjha tha main

kun ka afsun-e-azal phunka gaya tha jis ghaDi
mujh ko ab bhi yaad hai bar-e-digar samjha tha main

hai koi? jo mere is lamhe pe girya kar sake
jab mujhe bilkul samajh na thi magar samjha tha main

apne bachchon ki tarah us ne uDaya mujh ko sath
jis hawa-e-tund-KHu ko dar-ba-dar samjha tha main

mujh pe farsuda aqaed ki ajab yalghaar thi
chhoTe chhoTe waswason ko KHair-o-shar samjha tha main

regzar-e-shab-gazida tujh mein ta-hadd-e-nazar
dhup ka aaseb tha jis ko shajar samjha tha main

be-sar-o-samaniyon ki intiha thi 'jafari'
jab dar-o-diwar ko diwar-o-dar samjha tha main

bab-e-hairat jab talak khulta liyaqat-'jafari'
qais ko farhad ko aashufta-sar samjha tha main