ek zamane se falak Thahra hua lagta hai

ik zamāne se falak Thahrā huā lagtā hai

koī jiitā hai yahāñ aur na koī martā hai

āzmā.ish ho to kyā jāniye kis kā nikle

dekhne meñ to vo apnā hī koī lagtā hai

maut hī kī ho par ummīd kī sūrat ho koī

nā-umīdī meñ kahāñ tak koī jī saktā hai

naqsh-e-pā haiñ jo batāte haiñ ki guzrā hai koī

kaun guzrā hai magar kis ko patā chaltā hai

koī pūchhe to batānā nahīñ aatā dil ko

baiThe baiThe kabhī rotā hai kabhī hañstā hai

sub.h kī aas na toḌo ki jiyoge kaise

in havāoñ meñ abhī ek diyā jaltā hai

qāfila aisā muqaddar hai ki chaltā hī nahīñ

aur chaltā hai to pīchhe kī taraf chaltā hai

rah ga.ī barf faqat shahr kī buniyādoñ meñ

phir bhī jo zarra hai sūraj kā asar rakhtā hai

hijr ne aise marāhil se guzārā hai ki ab

raat kā naam bhī aa jaa.e to jī Dartā hai

dekhte dekhte kyā ho gayā 'shohrat' ki vo ab

dil meñ rahtā hai magar duur bahut lagtā hai

ek zamane se falak Thahra hua lagta hai

koi jita hai yahan aur na koi marta hai

aazmaish ho to kya jaaniye kis ka nikle

dekhne mein to wo apna hi koi lagta hai

maut hi ki ho par ummid ki surat ho koi

na-umidi mein kahan tak koi ji sakta hai

naqsh-e-pa hain jo batate hain ki guzra hai koi

kaun guzra hai magar kis ko pata chalta hai

koi puchhe to batana nahin aata dil ko

baiThe baiThe kabhi rota hai kabhi hansta hai

subh ki aas na toDo ki jiyoge kaise

in hawaon mein abhi ek diya jalta hai

qafila aisa muqaddar hai ki chalta hi nahin

aur chalta hai to pichhe ki taraf chalta hai

rah gai barf faqat shahr ki buniyaadon mein

phir bhi jo zarra hai suraj ka asar rakhta hai

hijr ne aise marahil se guzara hai ki ab

raat ka nam bhi aa jae to ji Darta hai

dekhte dekhte kya ho gaya 'shohrat' ki wo ab

dil mein rahta hai magar dur bahut lagta hai