sawal be-aman ban ke rah gae

savāl be-amān ban ke rah ga.e

javāb imtihān ban ke rah ga.e

had-e-nigāh tak buland falsafe

gharoñ ke sā.ebān ban ke rah ga.e

jo zehan, āgahī kī kār-gāh the

ḳhayāl kī dukān ban ke rah ga.e

bayāz par sambhal sake na tajrabe

phisal paḌe bayān ban ke rah ga.e

kiran kiran yaqīn jaise rāste

dhuāñ dhuāñ gumān ban ke rah ga.e

ziyā.eñ bāñTte the, chāñd the kabhī

gahan lagā to daan ban ke rah ga.e

mirā vajūd shahr shahr ho gayā

kahīñ kahīñ nishān 'ban' ke rah ga.e

kamar javāb de ke jhuk ga.ī badan

savāliya nishān ban ke rah ga.e

maiñ fan kī sā.atoñ ko lab na de sakā

nuqūsh be-zabān ban ke rah ga.e

nafas nafas talab talab the 'sāz' ham

qadam qadam takān ban ke rah ga.e

sawal be-aman ban ke rah gae

jawab imtihan ban ke rah gae

had-e-nigah tak buland falsafe

gharon ke saeban ban ke rah gae

jo zehan, aagahi ki kar-gah the

KHayal ki dukan ban ke rah gae

bayaz par sambhal sake na tajrabe

phisal paDe bayan ban ke rah gae

kiran kiran yaqin jaise raste

dhuan dhuan guman ban ke rah gae

ziyaen banTte the, chand the kabhi

gahan laga to dan ban ke rah gae

mera wajud shahr shahr ho gaya

kahin kahin nishan 'ban' ke rah gae

kamar jawab de ke jhuk gai badan

sawaliya nishan ban ke rah gae

main fan ki saaton ko lab na de saka

nuqush be-zaban ban ke rah gae

nafas nafas talab talab the 'saz' hum

qadam qadam takan ban ke rah gae