aj sham hai bahut udas
keval maian hooan apane pas .
door kahian par has-vilas
door kahian utsav-ullas
door chhitak kar kahian kho gaya
mera chir-sanchit vishvas .
kuchh bhoola sa aur bhrama sa
keval maian hooan apane pas
ek dhuandh mean kuchh sahami si
aj sham hai bahut udas .
ekakipan ka ekaant
kitana nishprabh, kitana klaant .
thaki-thaki si meri saansean
pavan ghutan se bhara ashant,
aisa lagata avarodhoan se
yah astitv svayan akrant .
aandhakar mean khoya-khoya
ekakipan ka ekaant
mere age jo kuchh bhi vah
kitana nishprabh, kitana klaant .
utar raha tam ka ambar
mere man mean vyatha apar .
adi-ant ki simaoan mean
kal avadhi ka yah vistar
kya karan? kya kary yahaan par?
ek prashan maian hooan sakar .
kyoan banana? kyoan banakar mitana?
mere man mean vyatha apar
au sametata nij mean sab kuchh
utar raha tam ka ambar .
sau-sau sanshay, sau-sau tras,
aj sham hai bahut udas .
joki aj tha to d raha vah
bujhi-bujhi si antim saans
aur anishchit kal mean hi hai
meri astha, meri as .
jivan reang raha hai lekar
sau-sau sanshay, sau-sau tras,
aur doobati huee ama mean
aj sham hai bahut udas .