ajal ne luT liya aa ke karwan-e-hayat

ajal ne luuT liyā aa ke kārvān-e-hayāt

sunā rahā huuñ zamāne ko dāstān-e-hayāt

hazāroñ karvaTeñ badlīñ zamāne ne lekin

uThe na ḳhvāb taġhāful se ḳhuftagān-e-hayāt

rahā na piirī meñ jab kuchh bhī zindagī kā maza

sahar ke vaqt chale uTh ke mehmān-e-hayāt

rah-e-adam kī vo dushvāriyāñ ma.āz-allāh

ki mar ke pahuñche haiñ manzil pe rahravān-e-hayāt

bahār-e-jalva-gah-e-yār terā kyā kahnā

adam se aa.e haiñ hastī meñ tālibān-e-hayāt

yahī bulandī-o-pastī hai bas zamāne kī

hai ik zamīn-e-hayāt ek āsmān-e-hayāt

kisī tarah bhī talāfī-e-zīst ho na sakī

qazā ke sar pe rahā ḳhūn-e-kushtagān-e-hayāt

khilā na ġhuncha-e-dil bāġh-e-dahr meñ 'afqar'

ḳhizāñ-nasīb rahā apnā gulistān-e-hayāt

ajal ne luT liya aa ke karwan-e-hayat

suna raha hun zamane ko dastan-e-hayat

hazaron karwaTen badlin zamane ne lekin

uThe na KHwab taghaful se KHuftagan-e-hayat

raha na piri mein jab kuchh bhi zindagi ka maza

sahar ke waqt chale uTh ke mehman-e-hayat

rah-e-adam ki wo dushwariyan maaz-allah

ki mar ke pahunche hain manzil pe rahrawan-e-hayat

bahaar-e-jalwa-gah-e-yar tera kya kahna

adam se aae hain hasti mein taliban-e-hayat

yahi bulandi-o-pasti hai bas zamane ki

hai ek zamin-e-hayat ek aasman-e-hayat

kisi tarah bhi talafi-e-zist ho na saki

qaza ke sar pe raha KHun-e-kushtagan-e-hayat

khila na ghuncha-e-dil bagh-e-dahr mein 'afqar'

KHizan-nasib raha apna gulistan-e-hayat