in aankhon mein kai sapne kai arman the lekin

in āñkhoñ meñ ka.ī sapne ka.ī armān the lekin

sukūt-e-lab kī tah meñ kis qadar tūfān the lekin

aqīdat kab thī isnād-e-shu.ūr-e-fahm kī qaa.il

hujūm-e-shahr kā kuchh pārsā īmān the lekin

rasā.ī manzil-e-maqsūd tak mumkin sī lagtī thī

ba-zāhir āgahī ke marhale āsān the lekin

lagā kar un ko dil se maiñ safar kartā rahā barsoñ

vo kuchh lamhe jo mere hausloñ kī jaan the lekin

agarche kuchh nigāheñ tiir barsātī rahīñ paiham

agarche kuchh ravayye bā.is-e-nuqsān the lekin

qalam un par uThānā chāhtā thā maiñ ba-har-sūrat

mire chāroñ taraf bikhre hue unvān the lekin

umūr-e-saltanat takrār-e-ādāb-e-shahanshāhī

murassā ḳhvāb-gāheñ masnadeñ dālān the lekin

ye tahrīreñ ye tasvīreñ ye sab qisse ye sab chehre

mire guzre hue ayyām kī pahchān the lekin

kabhī ham dar-ba-dar bhī maañ kī aqlīm-e-mohabbat ke

sārīr-ārā.ī mutlaq baḳht-var sultān the lekin

in aankhon mein kai sapne kai arman the lekin

sukut-e-lab ki tah mein kis qadar tufan the lekin

aqidat kab thi isnad-e-shuur-e-fahm ki qail

hujum-e-shahr ka kuchh parsa iman the lekin

rasai manzil-e-maqsud tak mumkin si lagti thi

ba-zahir aagahi ke marhale aasan the lekin

laga kar un ko dil se main safar karta raha barson

wo kuchh lamhe jo mere hauslon ki jaan the lekin

agarche kuchh nigahen tir barsati rahin paiham

agarche kuchh rawayye bais-e-nuqsan the lekin

qalam un par uThana chahta tha main ba-har-surat

mere chaaron taraf bikhre hue unwan the lekin

umur-e-saltanat takrar-e-adab-e-shahanshahi

murassa KHwab-gahen masnaden dalan the lekin

ye tahriren ye taswiren ye sab qisse ye sab chehre

mere guzre hue ayyam ki pahchan the lekin

kabhi hum dar-ba-dar bhi man ki aqlim-e-mohabbat ke

sarir-arai mutlaq baKHt-war sultan the lekin