mere KHwabon se ojhal us ka chehra ho gaya hai

mire ḳhvāboñ se ojhal us kā chehra ho gayā hai

maiñ aisā chāhtā kab thā par aisā ho gayā hai

ta.alluq ab yahāñ kam hai mulāqāteñ ziyāda

hujūm-e-shahr meñ har shaḳhs tanhā ho gayā hai

tirī takmīl kī ḳhvāhish to puurī ho na paa.ī

magar ik shaḳhs mujh meñ bhī adhūrā ho gayā hai

jo bāġh-e-ārzū thā ab vahī hai dasht-e-vahshat

ye dil kyā hone vaalā thā magar kyā ho gayā hai

maiñ samjhā thā siyegī āgahī chāk-e-junūñ ko

magar ye zaḳhm to pahle se gahrā ho gayā hai

maiñ tujh se saath bhī to umr-bhar kā chāhtā thā

so ab tujh se gilā bhī umr-bhar kā ho gayā hai

tire aane se aayā kaun sā aisā taġhayyur

faqat tark-e-marāsim kā mudāvā ho gayā hai

mirā aalam agar pūchheñ to un se arz karnā

ki jaisā aap farmāte the vaisā ho gayā hai

maiñ kyā thā aur kyā huuñ aur kyā honā hai mujh ko

mirā honā to jaise ik tamāshā ho gayā hai

yaqīnan ham ne aapas meñ koī va.ada kiyā thā

magar us guftugū ko ek arsa ho gayā hai

agarche dastaras meñ āgahī hai saarī duniyā

magar dil kī taraf bhī ek dar vā ho gayā hai

ye bechainī hamesha se mirī fitrat hai lekin

ba-qadr-e-umr is meñ kuchh izāfa ho gayā hai

mujhe har sub.h yaad aatī hai bachpan kī vo āvāz

chalo 'irfān' uTh jaao saverā ho gayā hai

mere KHwabon se ojhal us ka chehra ho gaya hai

main aisa chahta kab tha par aisa ho gaya hai

talluq ab yahan kam hai mulaqaten ziyaada

hujum-e-shahr mein har shaKHs tanha ho gaya hai

teri takmil ki KHwahish to puri ho na pai

magar ek shaKHs mujh mein bhi adhura ho gaya hai

jo bagh-e-arzu tha ab wahi hai dasht-e-wahshat

ye dil kya hone wala tha magar kya ho gaya hai

main samjha tha siyegi aagahi chaak-e-junun ko

magar ye zaKHm to pahle se gahra ho gaya hai

main tujh se sath bhi to umr-bhar ka chahta tha

so ab tujh se gila bhi umr-bhar ka ho gaya hai

tere aane se aaya kaun sa aisa taghayyur

faqat tark-e-marasim ka mudawa ho gaya hai

mera aalam agar puchhen to un se arz karna

ki jaisa aap farmate the waisa ho gaya hai

main kya tha aur kya hun aur kya hona hai mujh ko

mera hona to jaise ek tamasha ho gaya hai

yaqinan hum ne aapas mein koi wada kiya tha

magar us guftugu ko ek arsa ho gaya hai

agarche dastaras mein aagahi hai sari duniya

magar dil ki taraf bhi ek dar wa ho gaya hai

ye bechaini hamesha se meri fitrat hai lekin

ba-qadr-e-umr is mein kuchh izafa ho gaya hai

mujhe har subh yaad aati hai bachpan ki wo aawaz

chalo 'irfan' uTh jao sawera ho gaya hai