barson ke rat-jagon ki thakan kha gai mujhe

barsoñ ke rat-jagoñ kī thakan khā ga.ī mujhe

sūraj nikal rahā thā ki niiñd aa ga.ī mujhe

rakkhī na zindagī ne mirī muflisī kī sharm

chādar banā ke raah meñ phailā ga.ī mujhe

maiñ bik gayā thā baad meñ be-sarfa jaan kar

duniyā mirī dukān pe lauTā ga.ī mujhe

dariyā pe ek tanz samajhiye ki tishnagī

sāhil kī sard ret meñ dafnā ga.ī mujhe

ai zindagī tamām lahū rā.egāñ huā

kis dasht-e-be-savād meñ barsā ga.ī mujhe

kāġhaz kā chāñd rakh diyā duniyā ne haath meñ

pahle safar kī raat hī raas aa ga.ī mujhe

kyā chiiz thī kisī kī adā-e-supurdagī

bhīge badan kī aag meñ nahlā ga.ī mujhe

'qaisar' qalam kī aag kā ehsānmand huuñ

jab uñgliyāñ jalīñ to ġhazal aa ga.ī mujhe

barson ke rat-jagon ki thakan kha gai mujhe

suraj nikal raha tha ki nind aa gai mujhe

rakkhi na zindagi ne meri muflisi ki sharm

chadar bana ke rah mein phaila gai mujhe

main bik gaya tha baad mein be-sarfa jaan kar

duniya meri dukan pe lauTa gai mujhe

dariya pe ek tanz samajhiye ki tishnagi

sahil ki sard ret mein dafna gai mujhe

ai zindagi tamam lahu raegan hua

kis dasht-e-be-sawad mein barsa gai mujhe

kaghaz ka chand rakh diya duniya ne hath mein

pahle safar ki raat hi ras aa gai mujhe

kya chiz thi kisi ki ada-e-supurdagi

bhige badan ki aag mein nahla gai mujhe

'qaisar' qalam ki aag ka ehsanmand hun

jab ungliyan jalin to ghazal aa gai mujhe