chand sansen hain mera raKHt-e-safar hi kitna

chand sāñseñ haiñ mirā raḳht-e-safar hī kitnā

chāhiye zindagī karne ko hunar hī kitnā

chalo achchhā hī huā muft luTā dī ye jins

ham ko miltā sila-e-husn-e-nazar hī kitnā

kyā pighaltā jo rag-o-pai meñ thā yaḳh-basta lahū

vaqt ke jaam meñ thā shola-e-tar hī kitnā

kis ḳhatā par ye uThānā paḌī rātoñ kī salīb

ham ne dekhā thā abhī ḳhvāb-e-sahar hī kitnā

ham bhī kuchh der ko chamke the ki bas raakh hue

sach to ye hai ki ram-o-raqs-e-sharar hī kitnā

tarz-e-ehsās meñ nudrat thī udhar hī kitnī

fikr-o-jazabe meñ tavāzun hai idhar hī kitnā

de diye ḳhusrav-o-shīrīñ ne use moḌ ka.ī

varna yuuñ fāsla-e-tīsha-o-sar hī kitnā

terā irfān tū kyā ḳhud ko na pahchān sakā

thā mirā dā.ra-e-ilm-o-ḳhabar hī kitnā

yak qadam besh nahīñ shab kī masāfat lekin

ek TuuTe hue taare kā safar hī kitnā

ai 'fazā' dāman-e-alfāz hai ab bhī ḳhālī

thā yahāñ shāḳh-e-ma.ānī pe samar hī kitnā

chand sansen hain mera raKHt-e-safar hi kitna

chahiye zindagi karne ko hunar hi kitna

chalo achchha hi hua muft luTa di ye jins

hum ko milta sila-e-husn-e-nazar hi kitna

kya pighalta jo rag-o-pai mein tha yaKH-basta lahu

waqt ke jam mein tha shola-e-tar hi kitna

kis KHata par ye uThana paDi raaton ki salib

hum ne dekha tha abhi KHwab-e-sahar hi kitna

hum bhi kuchh der ko chamke the ki bas rakh hue

sach to ye hai ki ram-o-raqs-e-sharar hi kitna

tarz-e-ehsas mein nudrat thi udhar hi kitni

fikr-o-jazabe mein tawazun hai idhar hi kitna

de diye KHusraw-o-shirin ne use moD kai

warna yun fasla-e-tisha-o-sar hi kitna

tera irfan tu kya KHud ko na pahchan saka

tha mera dara-e-ilm-o-KHabar hi kitna

yak qadam besh nahin shab ki masafat lekin

ek TuTe hue tare ka safar hi kitna

ai 'faza' daman-e-alfaz hai ab bhi KHali

tha yahan shaKH-e-maani pe samar hi kitna