bas-ki dushwar hai us shaKHs ka chehra likhna

bas-ki dushvār hai us shaḳhs kā chehrā likhnā

varna mushkil to nahīñ koī sarāpā likhnā

ye bhī mumkin hai ki tahrīr badal dī jaa.e

dosto apnā bayāñ ḳhuun se puḳhta likhnā

kuchh hameñ sair-o-tamāshā se nahīñ dilchaspī

shaġhl bas apnā hai tanhā.ī meñ paḌhnā likhnā

dil kā darvāza tumhāre liye vā rakkheñge

lauT aane kā kabhī ho jo irāda likhnā

bhej to sakte ho tum likh ke shikāyat un ko

shart bas ye hai ki koī lafz na chubhtā likhnā

log asnād ke kashkol liye phirte haiñ

kitnā be-sūd hai is daur meñ paḌhnā likhnā

kaise dīvāne haiñ likhte hue thakte hī nahīñ

ek hī lafz ko sīdhā kabhī ulTā likhnā

pās-e-tahzīb to kuchh pās-e-qalam hai ham ko

varna aatā hai hameñ jaise ko taisā likhnā

log jab likh ke siyah kar ga.e dīvāreñ tak

kaun paḌhtā hai bhalā ret pe merā likhnā

sar meñ saudā thā ajab likh gayā us ko kyā kuchh

dil ne samjhāyā bahut thā ki na aisā likhnā

yaad kyā rakhtā ki vo zūd-farāmosh bhī thā

maiñ bhī kuchh bhuul gayā us ko taqāzā likhnā

likhte hī jā.eñge ham un ko arīze 'mohsin'

vo paḌheñ yā na paḌheñ kaam hai apnā likhnā

bas-ki dushwar hai us shaKHs ka chehra likhna

warna mushkil to nahin koi sarapa likhna

ye bhi mumkin hai ki tahrir badal di jae

dosto apna bayan KHun se puKHta likhna

kuchh hamein sair-o-tamasha se nahin dilchaspi

shaghl bas apna hai tanhai mein paDhna likhna

dil ka darwaza tumhaare liye wa rakkhenge

lauT aane ka kabhi ho jo irada likhna

bhej to sakte ho tum likh ke shikayat un ko

shart bas ye hai ki koi lafz na chubhta likhna

log asnad ke kashkol liye phirte hain

kitna be-sud hai is daur mein paDhna likhna

kaise diwane hain likhte hue thakte hi nahin

ek hi lafz ko sidha kabhi ulTa likhna

pas-e-tahzib to kuchh pas-e-qalam hai hum ko

warna aata hai hamein jaise ko taisa likhna

log jab likh ke siyah kar gae diwaren tak

kaun paDhta hai bhala ret pe mera likhna

sar mein sauda tha ajab likh gaya us ko kya kuchh

dil ne samjhaya bahut tha ki na aisa likhna

yaad kya rakhta ki wo zud-faramosh bhi tha

main bhi kuchh bhul gaya us ko taqaza likhna

likhte hi jaenge hum un ko arize 'mohsin'

wo paDhen ya na paDhen kaam hai apna likhna