Alif ki Khudkushi,

Jalti bujhti roshniyon mein saaya saaya jaltaa thaa,
Saara kamraa whisky aur cigarette kii buu meN duubaa thaa,
Ubal raha thaa zahar ragoN meN, maut ka nasha chhaayaa thaa,
Saaraa manzar nuqta nuqta, muhmal muhmal saa lagtaa thaa,
Shaayad kuchh din pahle tak yah koi bhoot baseraa thaa,
'Alif' nihattha...'Jeem' nihatthi...saare bay-hathiyaar,
Apne mulk aur apni qaum ke murdaa pahredaar,

'Jeem' ne saare rang utaare,
Aur qahqaha maar ke garjii,
Hai koi daavedaar,
Saare jaam utha kar chiikhe, tere ek hazaar!,
'Jeem' andheron se baahar aayii, kiya Alif par waar,
Baap tera maqrooz tha, mera qarz utaar,
Aar-paar sab saaye gum, bhoot bane darwaze,
Pret Aatmaon ki soorat khadi hui deewarein,
Gahree--apaar khamoshi--gahri athaah apaar
Bay-awaaz andhere barse, barse muslaadhaar,
Bijli ban kar kaundh rahe the yahi shabd, 'baap tera maqrooz tha mera',

Ek Anokhi khabar chhapi hai shahar ke sab akhbaron mein,
Sab dukanein band padi hain koi nahin bazaaron mein,
Saaen Saaen loo chalti hai, mitti mitti mausam hai,
Aaj Alif ke jal marne par duniya bhar mein maatam hai,

Jalti bujhti roshniyon mein saya saya jalta hai,
Ubal raha hai zahar ragon mein maut ka nasha chhaya hai,
Sara manzar nuqta nuqta mohmal mohmal lagta hai,
Elipena sach kahta tha; Yeh koi bhoot basera hai.।