‘ishq-o-mohabbat ke afsane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

‘ishq-o-mohabbat ke afsāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

sham’-e-javānī ke parvāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

mahfil meñ dil-soz tarāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

log na.e aur zaḳhm purāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

mazdūroñ ke ḳhvāb suhāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

dhan vāloñ ke tāne-bāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

kahne ko to rahmat ban kar bādal ghir-ghir aate haiñ

bijlī kī zad meñ kāshāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

kab din achchhe ā.eñge kab husn kī fitrat badlegī

qadam-qadam par laakh bahāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

bastī bastī ḳhāmoshī hai mahfil mahfil sannāTā

ḳhatre duniyā ko anjāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

sach kahte haiñ kahne vaale muhr hai daane daane par

kuchh logoñ ke ghar meñ daane kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

rang-mahal kī baat na pūchho saaqī bhī hai sāġhar bhī

band ġharīboñ par maiḳhāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

kis ne kis kā dard baTāyā kis ne kis kā saath diyā

log yahāñ jāne-pahchāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

koī mujāhid aisā bhī ho rok sake jo tūfānoñ ko

ye dānish-var ye farzāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

phuul khile haiñ Daalī Daalī in matvāloñ ke dam se

dhun ke pakke kuchh dīvāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

amn kī baat ab chal niklī hai paane vaale pā leñge

koshish meñ apne begāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

'zaidī' āhū-chashmoñ se kyā tīr-e-nazar kī baat kareñ

na.e shikārī na.e nishāne kal bhī the aur aaj bhī haiñ

‘ishq-o-mohabbat ke afsane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

sham’-e-jawani ke parwane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

mahfil mein dil-soz tarane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

log nae aur zaKHm purane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

mazduron ke KHwab suhane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

dhan walon ke tane-bane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

kahne ko to rahmat ban kar baadal ghir-ghir aate hain

bijli ki zad mein kashane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

kab din achchhe aaenge kab husn ki fitrat badlegi

qadam-qadam par lakh bahane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

basti basti KHamoshi hai mahfil mahfil sannaTa

KHatre duniya ko anjaane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

sach kahte hain kahne wale muhr hai dane dane par

kuchh logon ke ghar mein dane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

rang-mahal ki baat na puchho saqi bhi hai saghar bhi

band gharibon par maiKHane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

kis ne kis ka dard baTaya kis ne kis ka sath diya

log yahan jaane-pahchane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

koi mujahid aisa bhi ho rok sake jo tufanon ko

ye danish-war ye farzane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

phul khile hain Dali Dali in matwalon ke dam se

dhun ke pakke kuchh diwane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

amn ki baat ab chal nikli hai pane wale pa lenge

koshish mein apne begane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain

'zaidi' aahu-chashmon se kya tir-e-nazar ki baat karen

nae shikari nae nishane kal bhi the aur aaj bhi hain