bichhDa wo goya zist mein aaya kabhi na tha

bichhḌā vo goyā ziist meñ aayā kabhī na thā

us ne mire mizāj ko samjhā kabhī na thā

lahje meñ us ke turshī bhī aisī kabhī na thī

dil is burī tarah mirā TuuTā kabhī na thā

go iztirāb kī to na thī vajh-e-zāhirī

dil ko magar qarār kabhī thā kabhī na thā

maanā ki zindagānī meñ aa.e ga.e haiñ log

koī bhī us gulāb-numā sā kabhī na thā

aayā bhī mere shahr mile bin bhī jā chukā

jaisā huā huuñ aaj maiñ tanhā kabhī na thā

ghuTne hī us ne Tek diye haar maan lī

logo vo ek shaḳhs jo haarā kabhī na thā

rāh-e-vafā meñ dasht bhī the vahshateñ bhī thiiñ

gar kuchh na thā to zulf kā saaya kabhī na thā

jhelā hai dard hañste hue khelte hue

kyā shaḳhs thā jo shikva sarāpā kabhī na thā

rāteñ kaTī haiñ din bhī guzāre ga.e 'rashīd'

detā jo dukh meñ saath sahārā kabhī na thā

bichhDa wo goya zist mein aaya kabhi na tha

us ne mere mizaj ko samjha kabhi na tha

lahje mein us ke turshi bhi aisi kabhi na thi

dil is buri tarah mera TuTa kabhi na tha

go iztirab ki to na thi wajh-e-zahiri

dil ko magar qarar kabhi tha kabhi na tha

mana ki zindagani mein aae gae hain log

koi bhi us gulab-numa sa kabhi na tha

aaya bhi mere shahr mile bin bhi ja chuka

jaisa hua hun aaj main tanha kabhi na tha

ghuTne hi us ne Tek diye haar man li

logo wo ek shaKHs jo haara kabhi na tha

rah-e-wafa mein dasht bhi the wahshaten bhi thin

gar kuchh na tha to zulf ka saya kabhi na tha

jhela hai dard hanste hue khelte hue

kya shaKHs tha jo shikwa sarapa kabhi na tha

raaten kaTi hain din bhi guzare gae 'rashid'

deta jo dukh mein sath sahaara kabhi na tha