hath mein jab tak qalam tha tajribe likhte rahe

haath meñ jab tak qalam thā tajribe likhte rahe

ham zamīñ par āsmāñ ke mashvare likhte rahe

umr kitnī kaT ga.ī hijrat meñ sochā hī nahīñ

chehre kī saarī lakīreñ aa.ine likhte rahe

mausamoñ kī dastakeñ chīḳhoñ meñ dab kar rah ga.iiñ

giit kī farmā.isheñ thiiñ marsiye likhte rahe

tum na paḌhnā vo safar-nāma jo nok-e-ḳhār par

kū-ba-kū sahrā-ba-sahrā aable likhte rahe

hādse jin par mo.arriḳh kī zabāñ khultī nahīñ

shahr kī dīvār par ham ḳhuun se likhte rahe

kār-nāma aur kyā karte ye naqqādān-e-asr

nok-e-ḳhanjar se ġhazal par hāshiye likhte rahe

kaifiyat shāḳh-e-nihāl-e-ġham kī 'ishrat' sub.h-o-shām

āte-jāte mausamoñ ke qāfile likhte rahe

hath mein jab tak qalam tha tajribe likhte rahe

hum zamin par aasman ke mashware likhte rahe

umr kitni kaT gai hijrat mein socha hi nahin

chehre ki sari lakiren aaine likhte rahe

mausamon ki dastaken chiKHon mein dab kar rah gain

git ki farmaishen thin marsiye likhte rahe

tum na paDhna wo safar-nama jo nok-e-KHar par

ku-ba-ku sahra-ba-sahra aable likhte rahe

hadse jin par moarriKH ki zaban khulti nahin

shahr ki diwar par hum KHun se likhte rahe

kar-nama aur kya karte ye naqqadan-e-asr

nok-e-KHanjar se ghazal par hashiye likhte rahe

kaifiyat shaKH-e-nihaal-e-gham ki 'ishrat' subh-o-sham

aate-jate mausamon ke qafile likhte rahe