kahun main kya ki kya dard-e-nihan hai

kahūñ maiñ kyā ki kyā dard-e-nihāñ hai

tumhāre pūchhne hī se ayaañ hai

shikāyat kī bhī ab tāqat kahāñ hai

nigāh-e-hasrat āh-e-nā-tavāñ hai

nishān-e-pā-e-gair us āstāñ par

nahīñ hai mere marqad kā nishāñ hai

ajal ne kī hai kis dam mehrbānī

ki jab pahlū meñ vo nā-mehrbāñ hai

tujhe bhī mil gayā hai koī tujh sā

ab ā.īne se vo sohbat kahāñ hai

ye kis gul-rū kā aalam yaad aayā

dam-e-sard ik nasīm-e-bostāñ hai

huī betābi-e-bulbul mo.assir

ki ghabrāyā huā kuchh bāġhbāñ hai

sahar un ko irāda hai safar kā

qayāmat aane meñ shab darmiyāñ hai

koī yaañ laao us īsā-nafas ko

ki martā 'sheftā' naam ik javāñ hai

kahun main kya ki kya dard-e-nihan hai

tumhaare puchhne hi se ayan hai

shikayat ki bhi ab taqat kahan hai

nigah-e-hasrat aah-e-na-tawan hai

nishan-e-pa-e-gair us aastan par

nahin hai mere marqad ka nishan hai

ajal ne ki hai kis dam mehrbani

ki jab pahlu mein wo na-mehrban hai

tujhe bhi mil gaya hai koi tujh sa

ab aaine se wo sohbat kahan hai

ye kis gul-ru ka aalam yaad aaya

dam-e-sard ek nasim-e-bostan hai

hui betabi-e-bulbul moassir

ki ghabraya hua kuchh baghban hai

sahar un ko irada hai safar ka

qayamat aane mein shab darmiyan hai

koi yan lao us isa-nafas ko

ki marta 'shefta' nam ek jawan hai