karb ke shahr se nikle to ye manzar dekha

karb ke shahr se nikle to ye manzar dekhā

ham ko logoñ ne bulāyā hameñ chhū kar dekhā

vo jo barsāt meñ bhīgā to nigāheñ uTThīñ

yuuñ lagā hai koī turshā huā patthar dekhā

koī saaya bhī na sahme hue ghar se niklā

ham ne TuuTī huī dahlīz ko aksar dekhā

soch kā peḌ javāñ ho ke banā aisā rafīq

zehn ke qad ne use apne barābar dekhā

jab bhī chāhā hai ki malbūs-e-vafā ko chhū leñ

misl-e-ḳhushbū koī uḌtā huā paikar dekhā

raqs karte hue lamhoñ kī zabāñ guñg huī

apne siine meñ jo utrā huā ḳhanjar dekhā

zindagī itnī pareshāñ hai ye sochā bhī na thā

us ke atrāf meñ sholoñ kā samundar dekhā

raat bhar ḳhauf se chaTḳhe the sahar kī ḳhātir

sub.h-dam ḳhud ko bikharte hue dar par dekhā

vo jo uḌtī hai sadā dast-e-vafā meñ 'afzal'

usī miTTī meñ nihāñ dard kā gauhar dekhā

karb ke shahr se nikle to ye manzar dekha

hum ko logon ne bulaya hamein chhu kar dekha

wo jo barsat mein bhiga to nigahen uTThin

yun laga hai koi tursha hua patthar dekha

koi saya bhi na sahme hue ghar se nikla

hum ne TuTi hui dahliz ko aksar dekha

soch ka peD jawan ho ke bana aisa rafiq

zehn ke qad ne use apne barabar dekha

jab bhi chaha hai ki malbus-e-wafa ko chhu len

misl-e-KHushbu koi uDta hua paikar dekha

raqs karte hue lamhon ki zaban gung hui

apne sine mein jo utra hua KHanjar dekha

zindagi itni pareshan hai ye socha bhi na tha

us ke atraf mein sholon ka samundar dekha

raat bhar KHauf se chaTKHe the sahar ki KHatir

subh-dam KHud ko bikharte hue dar par dekha

wo jo uDti hai sada dast-e-wafa mein 'afzal'

usi miTTi mein nihan dard ka gauhar dekha