jal-pari hai to wo tasKHir bhi ho sakti hai

jal-parī hai to vo tasḳhīr bhī ho saktī hai

ḳhvāb hotā hai to ta.abīr bhī ho saktī hai

zindagī ko zarā shatranj samajh kar dekho

mere jhuk jaane meñ tadbīr bhī ho saktī hai

mas.ale mujh ko miTāne hī kā sāmān nahīñ

mas.aloñ se mirī ta.amīr bhī ho saktī hai

yaar ma.alūm havā hai ki ḳhalā ḳhālī nahīñ

raat ā.īne meñ tasvīr bhī ho saktī hai

zindagī film nahīñ jis kā ho anjām hasīñ

sūrat-e-hāl ye gambhīr bhī ho saktī hai

is se behtar hai ki ham sāmne laa.eñ ulfat

kuchh nahīñ hone kī tash.hīr bhī ho saktī hai

zimmedārī bhī dafātir meñ taraqqī se baḌhe

aap kī tie to zanjīr bhī ho saktī hai

saare jaale haiñ vajūhāt ke jaale lekin

ye jo makḌī hai ye taqdīr bhī ho saktī hai

vaqt ke saath nikhar jaatā hai taḳhlīq kā fan

shām-e-'zīshān' shab-e-'mīr' bhī ho saktī hai

jal-pari hai to wo tasKHir bhi ho sakti hai

KHwab hota hai to tabir bhi ho sakti hai

zindagi ko zara shatranj samajh kar dekho

mere jhuk jaane mein tadbir bhi ho sakti hai

masale mujh ko miTane hi ka saman nahin

masalon se meri tamir bhi ho sakti hai

yar malum hawa hai ki KHala KHali nahin

raat aaine mein taswir bhi ho sakti hai

zindagi film nahin jis ka ho anjam hasin

surat-e-haal ye gambhir bhi ho sakti hai

is se behtar hai ki hum samne laen ulfat

kuchh nahin hone ki tashhir bhi ho sakti hai

zimmedari bhi dafatir mein taraqqi se baDhe

aap ki tie to zanjir bhi ho sakti hai

sare jale hain wajuhat ke jale lekin

ye jo makDi hai ye taqdir bhi ho sakti hai

waqt ke sath nikhar jata hai taKHliq ka fan

sham-e-'zishan' shab-e-'mir' bhi ho sakti hai