kahan kho gai ruh ki raushni

kahāñ kho ga.ī ruuh kī raushnī

batā merī rātoñ ko āvārgī!

maiñ jab lamhe lamhe kā ras pī chukā

to kuchh aur jaagī mirī tishnagī

agar ghar se nikleñ to phir tez dhuup

magar ghar meñ Dastī huī tīrgī

ġhamoñ par tabassum kī Daalī naqāb

to hone lagī aur be-pardagī

magar jāgnā apnī qismat meñ thā

bulātī rahī niiñd kī jal-parī

jo ta.amīr kī kunj-e-tanhā.ī meñ

vo dīvār apne hī sar par girī

na jaane jale kaun sī aag meñ

hai kyuuñ sar pe ye raakh bikhrī huī

huī bārish-e-sañg is shahr meñ

hameñ bhī milā haqq-e-ham-sā.egī

guzārī hai kitnoñ ne is tarah umr

bil-aqsāt karte rahe ḳhud-kushī

haiñ kuchh log jin ko koī ġham nahīñ

ajab turfa ne.amat hai ye be-hisī

koī vaqt batlā ki tujh se malūñ

mirī dauḌtī bhāgtī zindagī

jinheñ saath chalnā ho chalte raheñ

ghaḌī vaqt kī kis kī ḳhātir rukī

maiñ jiitā to paa.ī kisī se na daad

maiñ haarā to ghar par baḌī bhiiḌ thī

huā ham pe ab un kā saaya harām

thī jin bādaloñ se kabhī dostī

mujhe ye añdhere nigal jā.eñge

kahāñ hai tū ai mere sūraj-mukhī!

nikāle ga.e is ke ma.anī hazār

ajab chiiz thī ik mirī ḳhāmushī

kahan kho gai ruh ki raushni

bata meri raaton ko aawargi!

main jab lamhe lamhe ka ras pi chuka

to kuchh aur jagi meri tishnagi

agar ghar se niklen to phir tez dhup

magar ghar mein Dasti hui tirgi

ghamon par tabassum ki Dali naqab

to hone lagi aur be-pardagi

magar jagna apni qismat mein tha

bulati rahi nind ki jal-pari

jo tamir ki kunj-e-tanhai mein

wo diwar apne hi sar par giri

na jaane jale kaun si aag mein

hai kyun sar pe ye rakh bikhri hui

hui barish-e-sang is shahr mein

hamein bhi mila haqq-e-ham-saegi

guzari hai kitnon ne is tarah umr

bil-aqsat karte rahe KHud-kushi

hain kuchh log jin ko koi gham nahin

ajab turfa neamat hai ye be-hisi

koi waqt batla ki tujh se malun

meri dauDti bhagti zindagi

jinhen sath chalna ho chalte rahen

ghaDi waqt ki kis ki KHatir ruki

main jita to pai kisi se na dad

main haara to ghar par baDi bhiD thi

hua hum pe ab un ka saya haram

thi jin baadalon se kabhi dosti

mujhe ye andhere nigal jaenge

kahan hai tu ai mere suraj-mukhi!

nikale gae is ke mani hazar

ajab chiz thi ek meri KHamushi