maine likhi lahu se to tahrir bol uThi

maiñ ne likhī lahū se to tahrīr bol uThī

har qatl-e-be-qusūr kī tafsīr bol uThī

zindāñ meñ to maiñ mohr-ba-lab hī rahā magar

jhankār ban ke paañv kī zanjīr bol uThī

pūchhā ki qatl-o-ḳhūn ye hai kis nazar kā shauq

tan kar nigāh-e-vaqt kī shamshīr bol uThī

be-kār hai talab jo ḳhulūs-e-talab na ho

uTThe duā ko haath to tāsīr bol uThī

ā.īna dekhte hue jab bhī ḳhayāl meñ

maiñ chup rahā to aap kī tasvīr bol uThī

jaage shu.ūr-o-fikr to vīrān ziist meñ

tadbīr-e-kāmyāb kī taqdīr bol uThī

aksar yahī huā hai ki jab arz-e-shauq meñ

ujlat na ho sakī hai to tāḳhīr bol uThī

vo raaz jis ko kah na sakī sharm se zabān

un ke hinā.ī haath kī tahrīr bol uThī

thī sub.h-e-nau us aag pe gum-sum magar 'kalīm'

har ek jalte ḳhvāb kī ta.abīr bol uThī

main ne likhi lahu se to tahrir bol uThi

har qatl-e-be-qusur ki tafsir bol uThi

zindan mein to main mohr-ba-lab hi raha magar

jhankar ban ke panw ki zanjir bol uThi

puchha ki qatl-o-KHun ye hai kis nazar ka shauq

tan kar nigah-e-waqt ki shamshir bol uThi

be-kar hai talab jo KHulus-e-talab na ho

uTThe dua ko hath to tasir bol uThi

aaina dekhte hue jab bhi KHayal mein

main chup raha to aap ki taswir bol uThi

jage shuur-o-fikr to viran zist mein

tadbir-e-kaamyab ki taqdir bol uThi

aksar yahi hua hai ki jab arz-e-shauq mein

ujlat na ho saki hai to taKHir bol uThi

wo raaz jis ko kah na saki sharm se zaban

un ke hinai hath ki tahrir bol uThi

thi subh-e-nau us aag pe gum-sum magar 'kalim'

har ek jalte KHwab ki tabir bol uThi