main KHak mein mile hue gulab dekhta raha

maiñ ḳhaak meñ mile hue gulāb dekhtā rahā

aur aane vaale mausamoñ ke ḳhvāb dekhtā rahā

kisī ne mujh se kah diyā thā zindagī pe ġhaur kar

maiñ shāḳh par khilā huā gulāb dekhtā rahā

khaḌā thā maiñ samundaroñ ko ok meñ liye hue

magar ye shaḳhs ajiib thā sarāb dekhtā rahā

vo us kā mujh ko dekhnā bhī ik tilism thā magar

maiñ aur ik jahāñ pas-e-naqāb dekhtā rahā

vo gahrī niiñd soī thī maiñ niiñd se laḌā huā

so raat bhar sahāb o māhtāb dekhtā rahā

siyāh raat meñ rafīq dushmanoñ se jā mile

maiñ hausloñ kī TūTtī tanāb dekhtā rahā

main KHak mein mile hue gulab dekhta raha

aur aane wale mausamon ke KHwab dekhta raha

kisi ne mujh se kah diya tha zindagi pe ghaur kar

main shaKH par khila hua gulab dekhta raha

khaDa tha main samundaron ko ok mein liye hue

magar ye shaKHs ajib tha sarab dekhta raha

wo us ka mujh ko dekhna bhi ek tilism tha magar

main aur ek jahan pas-e-naqab dekhta raha

wo gahri nind soi thi main nind se laDa hua

so raat bhar sahab o mahtab dekhta raha

siyah raat mein rafiq dushmanon se ja mile

main hauslon ki TuTti tanab dekhta raha