hum zamin ka aatishin ubhaar dekhte rahe

ham zamīñ kā ātishīñ ubhār dekhte rahe

sahme sahme se hī bas ġhubār dekhte rahe

shohrateñ, ye daulateñ, ye masnadeñ, milīñ pa ham

be-niyāz hī rahe, hazār dekhte rahe

āḳhirash zamāna un ko chhoḌ aage baḌh gayā

har qadam jo izzat-o-vaqār dekhte rahe

un ko phir amaañ kahāñ nasīb honī thii, ki jo

har maqām se rah-e-farār dekhte rahe

ek ek kar ke qatl ho rahī thī phir bhī ham

apnī ḳhvāhishoñ kī ik qatār dekhte rahe

hai muhāfiz-e-chaman kā mujrimāna taur ye

nuch ga.ī kalī kalī pa ḳhaar dekhte rahe

sab siyāh thā kahīñ na sab safed, phir bhī ham

lail dekhte rahe, nahār dekhte rahe

bāhar apne ḳhol se na aa sake tamām umr

ham darūn-e-zāt ḳhalfashār dekhte rahe

hausla na kāvisheñ, amal na rabt-e-āsmāñ

ham ki hasratoñ kā ik mazār dekhte rahe

āftāb o kahkashāñ, ye chāñd, taare duur se

raushnī kā bil-yaqīñ madār dekhte rahe

ab gila hai kyuuñ madad kā āsmāñ se, jab ki ham

kāyar aise the ki ḳhud pe vaar dekhte rahe

tere bin hayāt kī soch bhī gunāh thī

ham qarīb-e-jāñ tirā hisār dekhte rahe

dūsroñ ke haq kī vo laḌā.ī laḌ sakeñge kyā

vo jo apne aap ko bhī ḳhvār dekhte rahe

'ḳhālid' aise bhī to haiñ kināre baiTh kar hī jo

bahar meñ chaḌhāv aur utaar dekhte rahe

hum zamin ka aatishin ubhaar dekhte rahe

sahme sahme se hi bas ghubar dekhte rahe

shohraten, ye daulaten, ye masnaden, milin pa hum

be-niyaz hi rahe, hazar dekhte rahe

aaKHirash zamana un ko chhoD aage baDh gaya

har qadam jo izzat-o-waqar dekhte rahe

un ko phir aman kahan nasib honi thi, ki jo

har maqam se rah-e-farar dekhte rahe

ek ek kar ke qatl ho rahi thi phir bhi hum

apni KHwahishon ki ek qatar dekhte rahe

hai muhafiz-e-chaman ka mujrimana taur ye

nuch gai kali kali pa KHar dekhte rahe

sab siyah tha kahin na sab safed, phir bhi hum

lail dekhte rahe, nahaar dekhte rahe

bahar apne KHol se na aa sake tamam umr

hum darun-e-zat KHalfashaar dekhte rahe

hausla na kawishen, amal na rabt-e-asman

hum ki hasraton ka ek mazar dekhte rahe

aaftab o kahkashan, ye chand, tare dur se

raushni ka bil-yaqin madar dekhte rahe

ab gila hai kyun madad ka aasman se, jab ki hum

kayar aise the ki KHud pe war dekhte rahe

tere bin hayat ki soch bhi gunah thi

hum qarib-e-jaan tera hisar dekhte rahe

dusron ke haq ki wo laDai laD sakenge kya

wo jo apne aap ko bhi KHwar dekhte rahe

'KHalid' aise bhi to hain kinare baiTh kar hi jo

bahar mein chaDhaw aur utar dekhte rahe