khaDi hai raat andheron ka azhdaham lagae

khaḌī hai raat añdheroñ kā azhdahām lagā.e

aur ek raushnī baiThī hai apnā kaam lagā.e

ye kam nahīñ ki ḳharīdā usī parī ne hameñ

agarche us ne bahut kam hamāre daam lagā.e

maiñ āftāb-zada huuñ kahāñ hai zulf us kī

ki aa.e aur mirī āñkhoñ pe apnī shaam lagā.e

maiñ aayā kaam kiyā apnā aur chal bhī diyā

zamāna baiThā rahā apnā tām-jhām lagā.e

na jaane kitne zamānoñ kī muntazir āñkheñ

rah-e-umīd pe baiThī huī haiñ jaam lagā.e

chaman meñ us ne lagā.e hamāre naam ke phuul

to ham ne safha-e-hastī pe us ke naam lagā.e

magar maiñ chhūT gayā mere zor-e-dasht kī ḳhair

tamām shahr rahā qufl-e-intizām lagā.e

hamārī baarī ab aanī hai kūza-gar se kaho

ki rañg shoḳh kare ḳhuub ḳhaak ḳhaam lagā.e

mulāzmat jo milī daftar-e-fanā meñ milī

phire the ham jo bahut arzī-e-davām lagā.e

banā hai shahr kā sarmāya-kār yuuñ 'ehsās'

ki ik halāl lagāne meñ sau harām lagā.e

khaDi hai raat andheron ka azhdaham lagae

aur ek raushni baiThi hai apna kaam lagae

ye kam nahin ki KHarida usi pari ne hamein

agarche us ne bahut kam hamare dam lagae

main aaftab-zada hun kahan hai zulf us ki

ki aae aur meri aankhon pe apni sham lagae

main aaya kaam kiya apna aur chal bhi diya

zamana baiTha raha apna tam-jham lagae

na jaane kitne zamanon ki muntazir aankhen

rah-e-umid pe baiThi hui hain jam lagae

chaman mein us ne lagae hamare nam ke phul

to hum ne safha-e-hasti pe us ke nam lagae

magar main chhuT gaya mere zor-e-dasht ki KHair

tamam shahr raha qufl-e-intizam lagae

hamari bari ab aani hai kuza-gar se kaho

ki rang shoKH kare KHub KHak KHam lagae

mulazmat jo mili daftar-e-fana mein mili

phire the hum jo bahut arzi-e-dawam lagae

bana hai shahr ka sarmaya-kar yun 'ehsas'

ki ek halal lagane mein sau haram lagae