main pahuncha apni manzil tak magar aahista aahista

maiñ pahuñchā apnī manzil tak magar āhista āhista

kiyā hai puurā ik mushkil safar āhista āhista

nahīñ āsāñ harīm-e-nāz tak kī thī rasā.ī bhī

hue tasḳhīr lekin bām-o-dar āhista āhista

matā-e-azm-e-mohkam hī kā is ko mo.ajiza kahiye

ki manzil ban ga.ī ḳhud rahguzar āhista āhista

bahut hī saḳht garche zindagī ke ma.arke the bhī

khulā hai mujh pe har bāb-e-zafar āhista āhista

rahā hai rishta aisā sañg-o-tesha se ki le aayā

maiñ jū-e-shīr ik shīrīñ ke ghar āhista āhista

hunar aisā charāġhoñ ke dhuāñ piine se aayā hai

ki shabnam meñ badal jaate sharar āhista āhista

nahīñ kuchh kaam aa.ī hai kisī kī kīmiyā-sāzī

bane qatre pasīne ke guhar āhista āhista

sitāroñ ko banānā āftāb āsāñ nahīñ hotā

kiye kuchh ma.arke aise bhī sar āhista āhista

satā.ish nukta-chīnī aur sile se be-niyāzāna

maiñ bas chaltā rahā apnī Dagar āhista āhista

faqat ik sa.ī-e-paiham zindagī kā apnī unvāñ hai

shab-e-tārīk se phūTī sahar āhista āhista

falak ke chāñd tāroñ se raqābat bhī nahīñ lekin

kiyā dāman ko ḳhud rashk-e-qamar āhista āhista

gul-o-ġhuncha ki rañg-o-bū meñ pā letā huuñ sab un meñ

khile haiñ is tarah dāġh-e-jigar āhista āhista

hisār-e-nā-shanāsāñ ho ki bazm-e-nukta-chīnāñ ho

mujhe aa hī gayā karnā basar āhista āhista

maiñ dillī lucknow meñ garche pahle hī se thā lekin

huā huuñ ghar meñ 'tarzī' mo'atabar āhista āhista

main pahuncha apni manzil tak magar aahista aahista

kiya hai pura ek mushkil safar aahista aahista

nahin aasan harim-e-naz tak ki thi rasai bhi

hue tasKHir lekin baam-o-dar aahista aahista

mata-e-azm-e-mohkam hi ka is ko moajiza kahiye

ki manzil ban gai KHud rahguzar aahista aahista

bahut hi saKHt garche zindagi ke marke the bhi

khula hai mujh pe har bab-e-zafar aahista aahista

raha hai rishta aisa sang-o-tesha se ki le aaya

main ju-e-shir ek shirin ke ghar aahista aahista

hunar aisa charaghon ke dhuan pine se aaya hai

ki shabnam mein badal jate sharar aahista aahista

nahin kuchh kaam aai hai kisi ki kimiya-sazi

bane qatre pasine ke guhar aahista aahista

sitaron ko banana aaftab aasan nahin hota

kiye kuchh marke aise bhi sar aahista aahista

sataish nukta-chini aur sile se be-niyazana

main bas chalta raha apni Dagar aahista aahista

faqat ek sai-e-paiham zindagi ka apni unwan hai

shab-e-tarik se phuTi sahar aahista aahista

falak ke chand taron se raqabat bhi nahin lekin

kiya daman ko KHud rashk-e-qamar aahista aahista

gul-o-ghuncha ki rang-o-bu mein pa leta hun sab un mein

khile hain is tarah dagh-e-jigar aahista aahista

hisar-e-na-shanasan ho ki bazm-e-nukta-chinan ho

mujhe aa hi gaya karna basar aahista aahista

main dilli lucknow mein garche pahle hi se tha lekin

hua hun ghar mein 'tarzi' mo'atabar aahista aahista