main khud mein kho gayi hoon,
saans leti hoon magar jeeti nahin,
raat ki chaadar tale chupke se
khud ko mitaane ki dua karti hoon.
aaina dekhti hoon, par pehchaan nahin aati,
muskurahat ke peechhe cheekh chhupi hai,
har khushi ka bojh seene pe hai,
har aansu ek adhoori kahani hai.
log kehte hain, roshan sitara hoon main,
main sochti hoon, kaash mitti ka zarra hoti,
na koi umeed, na koi shikwa,
sirf khaali, be-aawaaz khamoshi hoti.
mujhe afsos hai, is saans ka,
is naam ka, is wajood ka,
kaash main ek lamha hoti,
jo aa kar, guzarta — bina nishan chhode.
