daur-e-tufan mein bhi ji lete hain jine wale

daur-e-tūfāñ meñ bhī jī lete haiñ jiine vaale

duur sāhil se kisī mauj-e-gurezāñ kī tarah

dil kī vaadī meñ tirā dard barastā hī rahā

abr-e-naisāñ kī tarah abr-e-bahārāñ kī tarah

fāsle vaqt meñ tabdīl hue jaate haiñ

zindagī raqs meñ hai gardish-e-daurāñ kī tarah

dil kī taskīn ko māñge kā ujālā kahiye

raat ik shoḳh kī yaad aa.ī thī mehmāñ kī tarah

aarzū aur zamāne kī kashākash se gurez

zindagī aur charāġh-e-tah-e-dāmāñ kī tarah

gar na ho ḳhātir nāzuk pe garāñ to kah duuñ

baat bhī dil meñ utar jaatī hai paikāñ kī tarah

ek tasvīr banī sarhad-e-iz.hār se duur

nutq hairāñ hai mire dīda-e-hairāñ kī tarah

chāñd nikhrā hai tirī lauh-e-jabīñ kī sūrat

raat bikhrī hai tirī zulf-e-pareshāñ kī tarah

kis ne hañs hañs ke piyā zahr-e-malāmat paiham

kaun rusvā sar-e-bāzār hai 'tābāñ' kī tarah

daur-e-tufan mein bhi ji lete hain jine wale

dur sahil se kisi mauj-e-gurezan ki tarah

dil ki wadi mein tera dard barasta hi raha

abr-e-naisan ki tarah abr-e-bahaaran ki tarah

fasle waqt mein tabdil hue jate hain

zindagi raqs mein hai gardish-e-dauran ki tarah

dil ki taskin ko mange ka ujala kahiye

raat ek shoKH ki yaad aai thi mehman ki tarah

aarzu aur zamane ki kashakash se gurez

zindagi aur charagh-e-tah-e-daman ki tarah

gar na ho KHatir nazuk pe garan to kah dun

baat bhi dil mein utar jati hai paikan ki tarah

ek taswir bani sarhad-e-izhaar se dur

nutq hairan hai mere dida-e-hairan ki tarah

chand nikhra hai teri lauh-e-jabin ki surat

raat bikhri hai teri zulf-e-pareshan ki tarah

kis ne hans hans ke piya zahr-e-malamat paiham

kaun ruswa sar-e-bazar hai 'taban' ki tarah