vah jaise hain vaise dikhate hain
is lihaaz se maan liya jae ki sachche hain
unhen is baat par garv hai ki ve saanp hain
jo aasteenon mein nahin palate
choree-chhipe nahin balki
dasate hain bataakar
kabhee sirf daraane ke lie
phunphakaarate hain phan kaadhe
ham sadiyon se aise saanpon ke rahe beech
jo palate rahe aasteenon mein
saath rahe uthate-baithate-sote
hamane maan liya tha ki ye
kya dasenge jo itane qareebee hain
poorvajon se seene mein dafan
zahar maarane ka mantr ham bhoolate gaye
bahut peedaadaayee hai
sarp-vish kee jalan-tadapan
khud par ho ya apanon par
sarp-dansh ka asar sone nahin deta
ya ki sula deta hai poore samudaay ko
ek jhaag-bharee, neelee-zahareelee neend!
tum baar-baar aagaah karate rahate ho
tumhaara shukriya lekin hoshiyaar raho
ye saanp beqaraar hain tumhaara shikaar karane ko…