hijr-asar tha ek shahr tah-e-dil na raha

hijr-āsār thā ik shahr tah-e-dil na rahā

aa ga.e tum to koī chaah ke qābil na rahā

vaqt kī kaunsī jihatoñ meñ tujhe DhūñDhtī maiñ

kahkashāñ dil na huī ishq dar-e-dil na rahā

mil ki ab jā ke mayassar huī puurī ḳhalvat

aa ki ab dasht-e-badan biich meñ haa.il na rahā

jaam gardish meñ usī jur.a-e-be-nām se the

chashm-e-sāqī jo bujhī nashsha-e-mahfil na rahā

ḳhaak uḌāne ko kahāñ jaa.e badan kī miTTī

dil hī jab jism ke āzār meñ shāmil na rahā

us ke dekhe se damak uTThī purānī tasvīr

aks ḳhud bol uThe aa.ina ghā.il na rahā

tīsre ishq ne zinda kiyā āḳhir mujh ko

vo jo ik marhala dushvār thā mushkil na rahā

hijr-asar tha ek shahr tah-e-dil na raha

aa gae tum to koi chah ke qabil na raha

waqt ki kaunsi jihaton mein tujhe DhunDhti main

kahkashan dil na hui ishq dar-e-dil na raha

mil ki ab ja ke mayassar hui puri KHalwat

aa ki ab dasht-e-badan bich mein hail na raha

jam gardish mein usi jura-e-be-nam se the

chashm-e-saqi jo bujhi nashsha-e-mahfil na raha

KHak uDane ko kahan jae badan ki miTTi

dil hi jab jism ke aazar mein shamil na raha

us ke dekhe se damak uTThi purani taswir

aks KHud bol uThe aaina ghail na raha

tisre ishq ne zinda kiya aaKHir mujh ko

wo jo ek marhala dushwar tha mushkil na raha