kahan thi taqat-e-guftar jo aah-o-fughan karte

kahāñ thī tāqat-e-guftār jo āh-o-fuġhāñ karte

jo dam kuchh dam Thahar jaatā to tum ko nazr jaañ karte

chalo jaañ bach ga.ī she'r-o-suḳhan meñ Dhal ga.e aañsū

dil-e-ranjūr meñ kab tak vagarna ġham makāñ karte

sukūñ se baiTh kar apnī tamāsha dekhte guzrī

bhalā kyoñ is fanā-ḳhāne meñ ham nām-o-nishāñ karte

kisī kā bār-e-furqat aur chale-chalne kī majbūrī

dahaktī dhuup meñ kis ko bhalā ham sā.ebāñ karte

hamārī dhaḌkaneñ tasbīh thiiñ ik nām-e-nāmī kī

zarūrat hī nahīñ samjhī ki kuchh vird-e-zabāñ karte

hamāre 'ishq kā mehvar numāyāñ bhī thā maḳhfī bhī

to kyoñ ham shauq meñ ḳhud ko nihāñ karte 'ayāñ karte

dabistān-e-suḳhan meñ tifl-e-maktab the 'zahīr'-e-man

vagarna in zamīnoñ ko ġhazal kī āsmāñ karte

kahan thi taqat-e-guftar jo aah-o-fughan karte

jo dam kuchh dam Thahar jata to tum ko nazr jaan karte

chalo jaan bach gai she'r-o-suKHan mein Dhal gae aansu

dil-e-ranjur mein kab tak wagarna gham makan karte

sukun se baiTh kar apni tamasha dekhte guzri

bhala kyon is fana-KHane mein hum nam-o-nishan karte

kisi ka bar-e-furqat aur chale-chalne ki majburi

dahakti dhup mein kis ko bhala hum saeban karte

hamari dhaDkanen tasbih thin ek nam-e-nami ki

zarurat hi nahin samjhi ki kuchh wird-e-zaban karte

hamare 'ishq ka mehwar numayan bhi tha maKHfi bhi

to kyon hum shauq mein KHud ko nihan karte 'ayan karte

dabistan-e-suKHan mein tifl-e-maktab the 'zahir'-e-man

wagarna in zaminon ko ghazal ki aasman karte