aur zara kaj meri kulah to hoti

aur zarā kaj mirī kulāh to hotī

zaat se bāhar kahīñ panāh to hotī

mujh ko agar zindagī ne kuchh na diyā thā

mere shab-o-roz kī gavāh to hotī

kho ga.ī manzil to ḳhair gard-e-safar meñ

jis pe maiñ chaltā rahā vo raah to hotī

ḳhauf-zada kaash koī mujh ko bhī rakhtā

mere liye bhī kahīñ panāh to hotī

lamha-e-maujūd dastaras meñ na hotā

lamha-e-maujūd par nigāh to hotī

aur mujhe ḳhalq se umiid hī kyā thī

merī nahīñ terī ḳhair-ḳhvāh to hotī

apne charāġhoñ kī taab dekhte ham bhī

raat tire hijr kī siyāh to hotī

us ne mujhe kar diyā ḳharāb to kyā hai

yuuñ bhī mirī zindagī tabāh to hotī

shahr se nisbat bhī kuchh nikāl hī lete

shahr ke logoñ se rasm-o-rāh to hotī

ḳhaak pe sonā hameñ qubūl thā 'rāshid'

ḳhaak pe kuchh raunaq-e-giyāh to hotī

aur zara kaj meri kulah to hoti

zat se bahar kahin panah to hoti

mujh ko agar zindagi ne kuchh na diya tha

mere shab-o-roz ki gawah to hoti

kho gai manzil to KHair gard-e-safar mein

jis pe main chalta raha wo rah to hoti

KHauf-zada kash koi mujh ko bhi rakhta

mere liye bhi kahin panah to hoti

lamha-e-maujud dastaras mein na hota

lamha-e-maujud par nigah to hoti

aur mujhe KHalq se umid hi kya thi

meri nahin teri KHair-KHwah to hoti

apne charaghon ki tab dekhte hum bhi

raat tere hijr ki siyah to hoti

us ne mujhe kar diya KHarab to kya hai

yun bhi meri zindagi tabah to hoti

shahr se nisbat bhi kuchh nikal hi lete

shahr ke logon se rasm-o-rah to hoti

KHak pe sona hamein qubul tha 'rashid'

KHak pe kuchh raunaq-e-giyah to hoti