ho rahi hai dar-ba-dar aisi jabin-sai ki bas

ho rahī hai dar-ba-dar aisī jabīñ-sā.ī ki bas

kyā abhī baaqī hai koī aur rusvā.ī ki bas

āshnā rāheñ bhī hotī jā rahī haiñ ajnabī

is tarah jaatī rahī āñkhoñ se bīnā.ī ki bas

tā sahar karte rahe ham intizār-e-mehr-e-nau

dekhte hī dekhte aisī ghaTā chhā.ī ki bas

DhūñDte hī rah ga.e ham laal o almās o guhar

kor bad-bīnoñ ne aisī ḳhaak chhanvā.ī ki bas

kuchh shu.ūr o his kā thā bohrān ham meñ varna ham

ahd-e-nau kī is tarah karte pazīrā.ī ki bas

kyā nahīñ kaj-aks ā.īnoñ kā duniyā meñ ilaaj

jis ko dekho hai ajab mahv-e-ḳhud-ārā.ī ki bas

chākrī karte hue bhī ham rahe āzād-rau

dast-o-pā-e-shauq meñ hai vo tavānā.ī ki bas

aah kyā karte ki ham aadī na the ārām ke

choT ik ik gaam par albatta vo khaa.ī ki bas

us hasīñ giitī ke khul kar rah ga.e sab joḌ-band

chand pāgal zarroñ ko aa.ī vo añgḌā.ī ki bas

vo to kahiye baat ki fursat na thī varna ajal

pūchhtī gāv-e-zamīñ se aur paspā.ī ki bas

kaun shā.ir thā kahīñ kā kaun dānish-var magar

daftaroñ kī dauḌ 'vāmiq' aisī raas aa.ī ki bas

ho rahi hai dar-ba-dar aisi jabin-sai ki bas

kya abhi baqi hai koi aur ruswai ki bas

aashna rahen bhi hoti ja rahi hain ajnabi

is tarah jati rahi aankhon se binai ki bas

ta sahar karte rahe hum intizar-e-mehr-e-nau

dekhte hi dekhte aisi ghaTa chhai ki bas

DhunDte hi rah gae hum lal o almas o guhar

kor bad-binon ne aisi KHak chhanwai ki bas

kuchh shuur o his ka tha bohran hum mein warna hum

ahd-e-nau ki is tarah karte pazirai ki bas

kya nahin kaj-aks aainon ka duniya mein ilaj

jis ko dekho hai ajab mahw-e-KHud-arai ki bas

chaakri karte hue bhi hum rahe aazad-rau

dast-o-pa-e-shauq mein hai wo tawanai ki bas

aah kya karte ki hum aadi na the aaram ke

choT ek ek gam par albatta wo khai ki bas

us hasin giti ke khul kar rah gae sab joD-band

chand pagal zarron ko aai wo angDai ki bas

wo to kahiye baat ki fursat na thi warna ajal

puchhti gaw-e-zamin se aur paspai ki bas

kaun shair tha kahin ka kaun danish-war magar

daftaron ki dauD 'wamiq' aisi ras aai ki bas