jis shaks to tum dhoond rahe ** wo to hai mujhe na pata
par ye naam to mera hi hai lekin is 'mera' ka 'main' to laapataa
jab mujhme mai hi nahi hu to kise dhoond rahe ** tum?
kahi aisa to nahi ki hum dono ek hi shaks to dhoond rahe hai?
khair tum to bas ek naam dhoond rahe ** jo ki hazaro hai is jahan me
par mujhe jiska justuju hai wo ek hi hai is aalam me
kahi aisa to nahi ki mai bhi hazaro me hu is jahan me
khair hazar hone ka bhi kya fayda jab itne naayab ** ki kahi na mile
** sakta hai mai to hu kahi aur ye to mera zuban baat kar raha hai
kahi aisa to nahi ki jaha hu mai waha bhi mera zuban hi baat kar raha hai?
kis darya pe hu mojud wo to shayad kisiko na pata
kahi aisa to nahi mai hu hi nahi
ya phir bas mai hi hu aur sab jhooth
mai ye kisse baat kar raha hu kahi ye mai to nahi?
kahi ye dunya bas meri hi ek rup to nahi?
kahi ye nazm jo padh raha hai wo mai to nahi?
ya phir tum hi ** sach aur sab jhooth
phir ye nazm jo likh raha hai kahi ye tum to nahi?
phir ye janab e lafz mera kahi tumhara to nahi?
ya phir tum bhi ** hum bhi hai bas aapne aapne talash me
pata nahi kaha se gir gaye hum itni gehri talab me
kahi aalam e akbar ye to nahi?
kahi jannat-jahannaum ye to nahi?
kahi hum to khuda nahi ?
kahi khuda to hum nahi?
kahi ye to ek sapna nahi?
khair agar hai bhi to hume kya
hum maut ke intejaar me shab o roz
kahi aisa to nahi ki shab bhi hum  aur roz bhi hum hai?
dantte hai ye log ki, ae 'Aarib' ye kya pagal-pan hai?
shayad aisa na ** ki wo log bhi hum hai
zindagi to bas intejaar hai maut ka
kahi aisa to nahi ki zindagi bhi hum aur maut bhi hum hai?

Rabab baj rahi thi kahi, jaha khuda bhi naach raha tha,
Phir na jaane kaunsi yaad-e-dard baraat leke agayi.

Naghma jo lehrake aayi, banke sur-e-shahen shah,
Wo sur jo nafs se mile, to khud dard banke beh gayi.

Aye mere jaan-o-dil, jamal-e-mah suna teri nazm-e-kamal,
Hum to ro rahe hain, jab se teri lafzon, aasu ban ke beh gayi.

Andaaz mat pucho koi, apna batane layak nahi rahi,
Khair agar puch hi liya hai, to kya batayen, koi andaz hi nahi rahi.

Bata to denge hum, par koi kyun sunega,
Khair agar sun hi liya hai, to sun ke bhi kya samjhega.

Baatein to bohot hain, gar koi sunna chahe to,Par kaun sunne ke liye baitha rahe?
Khair agar baith hi gaya **, to ek be-kafan lash ka,Nazm-e-ashk bhi sun ke jao.

Ro to nahi rahe the hum, wo kam to apna lafz kar raha tha,
Achanak wo rabab yaad agayi, jis pe khuda nach raha tha.

Hum to baithe the, ab khare ** gaye,
Na jaane apna rone ki awaaz, us mehfil ko kharab na karde.

Ab mai chal raha hoon, kahi aur jaa raha hoon,
Kidhar jaa raha hoon, utna nahi pata,
Bas rabab se dur chala jaun,
Nayi mehfil sajane, udhar firse nazm-e-ashk bhi suna na hai.

She was born in the back alleys of bones
left as scrap thrown to the dogs
by men who chewed her raw
and picked their teeth
with the edge of her.

When sprouts formed,
and skin and flesh blanketed her existence,
and blood dripped into her veins
from body bags in dumpsters:
she began to grow anger,
and brain,
and heart,
and eyes,
and fists.

So she may see the men her tossed her,
and attain her vengeance.