koi maqtul-e-jafa ho jaise

koī maqtūl-e-jafā ho jaise

ya.anī tasvīr-e-vafā ho jaise

bār-hā yuuñ bhī huā hai mahsūs

koī mujh meñ hī chhupā ho jaise

kitnā mustaġhnī-e-darmāñ hai ye

dard ḳhud apnī davā ho jaise

yuuñ shab-o-roz guzāre tujh bin

vaqt suulī pe kaTā ho jaise

is takallum pe dil-o-jāñ sadqe

aap ne sher kahā ho jaise

bāt-be-bāt ḳhafā ho jaanā

ye bhī ik us kī adā ho jaise

is tarah khel rahā hai har shaḳhs

zindagī ek juā ho jaise

dil-e-marhūm kā mātam to nahīñ

ek mahshar sā bapā ho jaise

ab to kuchh aisā sukūñ hāsil hai

kisī aabid kī duā ho jaise

chashmak-e-barq tirā kyā kahnā

usī kāfir kī adā ho jaise

is tarah kaaT rahā huuñ hamdam

zindagī koī sazā ho jaise

aah nā-karda-gunāhī kī qasam

ye bhī merī hī ḳhatā ho jaise

jumbish-e-lab pe gumāñ hotā hai

naam merā hī liyā ho jaise

yuuñ bujhā aaj charāġh-e-ummīd

ye bhī muflis kā diyā ho jaise

is tarah chhuT ga.e ahbāb-o-azīz

gosht nāḳhun se judā ho jaise

bandagī kaun kare banda-navāz

ab to banda hī ḳhudā ho jaise

log kahte haiñ jise ahd-e-shabāb

ye bhī do din kī havā ho jaise

mus.haf-e-ruḳh pe ghanerī zulfeñ

chāñd badlī meñ chhupā ho jaise

yuuñ girāyā hai nazar se us ne

ashk dāman pe girā ho jaise

yād-e-ayyām-e-guzishta 'tālib'

dil meñ ik dard uThā ho jaise

ab to 'tālib' ye gumāñ hotā hai

vo mujhe bhuul gayā ho jaise

koi maqtul-e-jafa ho jaise

yani taswir-e-wafa ho jaise

bar-ha yun bhi hua hai mahsus

koi mujh mein hi chhupa ho jaise

kitna mustaghni-e-darman hai ye

dard KHud apni dawa ho jaise

yun shab-o-roz guzare tujh bin

waqt suli pe kaTa ho jaise

is takallum pe dil-o-jaan sadqe

aap ne sher kaha ho jaise

baat-be-baat KHafa ho jaana

ye bhi ek us ki ada ho jaise

is tarah khel raha hai har shaKHs

zindagi ek jua ho jaise

dil-e-marhum ka matam to nahin

ek mahshar sa bapa ho jaise

ab to kuchh aisa sukun hasil hai

kisi aabid ki dua ho jaise

chashmak-e-barq tera kya kahna

usi kafir ki ada ho jaise

is tarah kaT raha hun hamdam

zindagi koi saza ho jaise

aah na-karda-gunahi ki qasam

ye bhi meri hi KHata ho jaise

jumbish-e-lab pe guman hota hai

nam mera hi liya ho jaise

yun bujha aaj charagh-e-ummid

ye bhi muflis ka diya ho jaise

is tarah chhuT gae ahbab-o-aziz

gosht naKHun se juda ho jaise

bandagi kaun kare banda-nawaz

ab to banda hi KHuda ho jaise

log kahte hain jise ahd-e-shabab

ye bhi do din ki hawa ho jaise

mushaf-e-ruKH pe ghaneri zulfen

chand badli mein chhupa ho jaise

yun giraya hai nazar se us ne

ashk daman pe gira ho jaise

yaad-e-ayyam-e-guzishta 'talib'

dil mein ek dard uTha ho jaise

ab to 'talib' ye guman hota hai

wo mujhe bhul gaya ho jaise