main apne-ap se ghafil na yun hua hota

maiñ apne-āp se ġhāfil na yuuñ huā hotā

mire bhī paas agar koī aa.ina hotā

zarā to soch kar itnā hī kar liyā hotā

mujhe kitāb samajh kar hī paḌh liyā hotā

tamām-umr faqat ek aarzū hī rahī

kiyā thā pyaar to phir TuuT kar kiyā hotā

ye aur baat ki maiñ tujh se duur huuñ lekin

maiñ tere paas bhī hotā bhalā to kyā hotā

papīhā sāvanoñ meñ yuuñ pukārtā na kabhī

agar tū chāñdnī rātoñ meñ mil gayā hotā

mirī bisāt ke baare meñ pūchhne vaale

kisī faqīr kā chehra hī paḌh liyā hotā

karūñ to kis se karūñ maiñ gilā jahālat kā

ye aarzū thī ki maiñ bhī paḌhā-likhā hotā

khañDar-zamīñ pe basā letā bastiyāñ vo bhī

agar vo vaqt se pahle na mar gayā hotā

bharī bharī kisī mahfil meñ dekh kar us ko

maiñ apne jism ke andar hī chhup gayā hotā

mire qalam se Tapaktā huā lahū 'rizvī'

kisī kī aañkh kā kājal hī ban gayā hotā

main apne-ap se ghafil na yun hua hota

mere bhi pas agar koi aaina hota

zara to soch kar itna hi kar liya hota

mujhe kitab samajh kar hi paDh liya hota

tamam-umr faqat ek aarzu hi rahi

kiya tha pyar to phir TuT kar kiya hota

ye aur baat ki main tujh se dur hun lekin

main tere pas bhi hota bhala to kya hota

papiha sawanon mein yun pukarta na kabhi

agar tu chandni raaton mein mil gaya hota

meri bisat ke bare mein puchhne wale

kisi faqir ka chehra hi paDh liya hota

karun to kis se karun main gila jahaalat ka

ye aarzu thi ki main bhi paDha-likha hota

khanDar-zamin pe basa leta bastiyan wo bhi

agar wo waqt se pahle na mar gaya hota

bhari bhari kisi mahfil mein dekh kar us ko

main apne jism ke andar hi chhup gaya hota

mere qalam se Tapakta hua lahu 'rizwi'

kisi ki aankh ka kajal hi ban gaya hota