ek jal-thal thi kal tak ye zamin ye dasht bhi kal tak dariya the

ik jal-thal thī kal tak ye zamīñ ye dasht bhī kal tak dariyā the

ye shor thā kal ik sannāTā ye shahar bhī kal tak sahrā the

āġhāz apnā vahshat basrī anjām apnā shorīda-sarī

ham aaj bhī haiñ badnām bahut ham kal bhī nihāyat rusvā the

tanhā.ī-e-zāt kā saaya hai tanhā.ī apnā virsa hai

ham aaj bhī haiñ tanhā tanhā ham kal bhī tanhā tanhā the

maazī ke ḳharāboñ meñ bhī kahīñ lau detā rahā sūraj apnā

maazī ke ḳharāboñ meñ bhī ham ik ḳhvāb-e-jahān-fardā the

apnā hī to hai shahkār-e-amal tahzīb kā ye zindāñ 'akbar'

ham aaj haiñ shahroñ ke qaidī kal tak āvāra-e-sahrā the

ek jal-thal thi kal tak ye zamin ye dasht bhi kal tak dariya the

ye shor tha kal ek sannaTa ye shahar bhi kal tak sahra the

aaghaz apna wahshat basri anjam apna shorida-sari

hum aaj bhi hain badnam bahut hum kal bhi nihayat ruswa the

tanhai-e-zat ka saya hai tanhai apna wirsa hai

hum aaj bhi hain tanha tanha hum kal bhi tanha tanha the

mazi ke KHarabon mein bhi kahin lau deta raha suraj apna

mazi ke KHarabon mein bhi hum ek KHwab-e-jahan-farda the

apna hi to hai shahkar-e-amal tahzib ka ye zindan 'akbar'

hum aaj hain shahron ke qaidi kal tak aawara-e-sahra the