itni mushkil to na thi meri kitab-e-zindagi

itnī mushkil to na thī merī kitāb-e-zindagī

kuchh ulajh ke rah gayā hai ab nisāb-e-zindagī

zindagī letī hai mujh se ek ik pal kā hisāb

thak ga.ī huuñ dete dete maiñ hisāb-e-zindagī

mujh ko pesh aatī rahī haiñ mushkileñ hī mushkileñ

jān-levā hai ilāhī ye azāb-e-zindagī

mujh se gar koī bhī pūchhe zindagī kyā chiiz hai

maiñ kahūñgī ek dīvāne kā ḳhvāb-e-zindagī

dil ne sargoshī sī kī hai sun mire hamdam zarā

chheḌ ke to dekh kaisā hai rabāb-e-zindagī

tujh se maiñ kaise kahūñ ye baat mere ham-navā

yaad aatā hai mujhe aksar shabāb-e-zindagī

kaT ga.ī jaise kaTī bas tū ḳhudā ko yaad kar

ai 'nasīm' ab Dhal rahā hai āftāb-e-zindagī

itni mushkil to na thi meri kitab-e-zindagi

kuchh ulajh ke rah gaya hai ab nisab-e-zindagi

zindagi leti hai mujh se ek ek pal ka hisab

thak gai hun dete dete main hisab-e-zindagi

mujh ko pesh aati rahi hain mushkilen hi mushkilen

jaan-lewa hai ilahi ye azab-e-zindagi

mujh se gar koi bhi puchhe zindagi kya chiz hai

main kahungi ek diwane ka KHwab-e-zindagi

dil ne sargoshi si ki hai sun mere hamdam zara

chheD ke to dekh kaisa hai rabab-e-zindagi

tujh se main kaise kahun ye baat mere ham-nawa

yaad aata hai mujhe aksar shabab-e-zindagi

kaT gai jaise kaTi bas tu KHuda ko yaad kar

ai 'nasim' ab Dhal raha hai aaftab-e-zindagi