log kahte hain kanTon-bhara rasta

log kahte haiñ kāñToñ-bharā rāsta

itnā mushkil nahīñ 'ishq kā rāsta

us kā dil ro diyā maiñ ne jab ye kahā

tum na dekho mirā dil-rubā rāsta

phir vo saath aa gayā kar ke 'ahd-e-vafā

bach gayā vo bhaTakne ko thā rāsta

saath mere vo nāz-e-bahārāñ chalā

us ke qadmoñ se gulshan banā rāsta

maiñ talabgār thā manzil-e-husn kā

us tabassum ne dikhlā diyā rāsta

haa.e ye qāfila kis taraf chal diyā

raat aur pech-o-ḳham se bharā rāsta

maiñ samajhtā rahā is ko hadd-e-yaqīn

rahbar ḳhud ko kahtā rahā rāsta

ham-safar meñ shu’ūr-e-safar hī na thā

is liye us ko bhaTkā gayā rāsta

maiñ chalā hosh ke rāste par magar

mai-kade kī taraf muḌ gayā rāsta

kuchh na thā bas ye āvāz thī aur maiñ

koī kahtā thā ab bhuul jā rāsta

log kahte hain kanTon-bhara rasta

itna mushkil nahin 'ishq ka rasta

us ka dil ro diya main ne jab ye kaha

tum na dekho mera dil-ruba rasta

phir wo sath aa gaya kar ke 'ahd-e-wafa

bach gaya wo bhaTakne ko tha rasta

sath mere wo naz-e-bahaaran chala

us ke qadmon se gulshan bana rasta

main talabgar tha manzil-e-husn ka

us tabassum ne dikhla diya rasta

hae ye qafila kis taraf chal diya

raat aur pech-o-KHam se bhara rasta

main samajhta raha is ko hadd-e-yaqin

rahbar KHud ko kahta raha rasta

ham-safar mein shu’ur-e-safar hi na tha

is liye us ko bhaTka gaya rasta

main chala hosh ke raste par magar

mai-kade ki taraf muD gaya rasta

kuchh na tha bas ye aawaz thi aur main

koi kahta tha ab bhul ja rasta