diye jo kar diye gul ahd-e-shab mein rahte hue

diye jo kar diye gul ahd-e-shab meñ rahte hue

ye ehtijāj thā hadd-e-adab meñ rahte hue

har ek baat pe shak har na.ī sahar se gurez

baras guzar ga.e kyuuñ aur kab meñ rahte hue

vo log kaun the kis āb-o-gil kā paikar the

jo phuul jaise the dasht-e-ġhazab meñ rahte hue

guzishtagān-e-mohabbat se kuchh hunar le kar

judā sabhī se rahe aur sab meñ rahte hue

kabhī jo yaad mujhe aa gayā mirā bachpan

to aañkh nam huī bazm-e-tarab meñ rahte hue

maiñ apnī zaat kī pahchān tak gañvā baiThā

ḳhayāl-e-izzat-e-nām-o-nasab meñ rahte hue

hadīs-e-dil bhī to maiñ likh nahīñ sakā 'ashfāq'

hujūm-e-halqa-e-sher-o-adab meñ rahte hue

diye jo kar diye gul ahd-e-shab mein rahte hue

ye ehtijaj tha hadd-e-adab mein rahte hue

har ek baat pe shak har nai sahar se gurez

baras guzar gae kyun aur kab mein rahte hue

wo log kaun the kis aab-o-gil ka paikar the

jo phul jaise the dasht-e-ghazab mein rahte hue

guzishtagan-e-mohabbat se kuchh hunar le kar

juda sabhi se rahe aur sab mein rahte hue

kabhi jo yaad mujhe aa gaya mera bachpan

to aankh nam hui bazm-e-tarab mein rahte hue

main apni zat ki pahchan tak ganwa baiTha

KHayal-e-izzat-e-nam-o-nasab mein rahte hue

hadis-e-dil bhi to main likh nahin saka 'ashfaq'

hujum-e-halqa-e-sher-o-adab mein rahte hue