aaghosh-e-tamanna mein ek lala-e-qatil tha

āġhosh-e-tamanna meñ ik lāla-e-qātil thā

ḳhud se hī laḌā.ī thī ḳhud apne muqābil thā

kal ḳhvāb meñ jo dekhā pahchān nahīñ paayā

vo dost thā dushman thā haq par thā ki bātil thā

vo tiir chalāte the aur us ke nishāne par

kuchh aur nahīñ lekin jo bhī thā mirā dil thā

ham chal ke to aa.e haiñ manzil pe magar yaaro

kyā jānoge tum rasta kis taab se mushkil thā

vo daur-e-mohabbat bhī kitnā thā hasīñ jis meñ

ik chāra-nashīnī thī ik parda-e-mahmil thā

us ‘ālam-e-zindāñ kā kyā haal likhūñ jis meñ

maiñ aap samundar thā maiñ aap hī sāhil thā

dushman se shikāyat bhī maiñ kaise karūñ jabki

sāzish meñ mirā hamdam jī jaan se shāmil thā

uTh kar jo gayā us kā kahte haiñ jahāñ vaale

vo ‘kāvish’-e-bismil thā ik raunaq-e-mahfil thā

aaghosh-e-tamanna mein ek lala-e-qatil tha

KHud se hi laDai thi KHud apne muqabil tha

kal KHwab mein jo dekha pahchan nahin paya

wo dost tha dushman tha haq par tha ki baatil tha

wo tir chalate the aur us ke nishane par

kuchh aur nahin lekin jo bhi tha mera dil tha

hum chal ke to aae hain manzil pe magar yaro

kya jaanoge tum rasta kis tab se mushkil tha

wo daur-e-mohabbat bhi kitna tha hasin jis mein

ek chaara-nashini thi ek parda-e-mahmil tha

us ‘alam-e-zindan ka kya haal likhun jis mein

main aap samundar tha main aap hi sahil tha

dushman se shikayat bhi main kaise karun jabki

sazish mein mera hamdam ji jaan se shamil tha

uTh kar jo gaya us ka kahte hain jahan wale

wo ‘kawish’-e-bismil tha ek raunaq-e-mahfil tha