na jaega kisi ke gesuon ka KHam-ba-KHam hona

na jā.egā kisī ke gesuoñ kā ḳham-ba-ḳham honā

bahut mushkil hai mere shauq kī uljhan kā kam honā

sanam-ḳhāna ho yā ka.aba jhukā dūñgā jabīñ apnī

agar sābit huā mujh par tirā naqsh-e-qadam honā

bhalā kyūñkar vo bachtā aap ke dām-e-mohabbat se

muqaddar hī meñ thā jis ke asīr-e-ranj-o-ġham honā

na itnī de ki maiñ bahkūñ na tishna-lab rahūñ saaqī

ba-qadr-e-zarf sāġhar de burā hai besh-o-kam honā

nazar vāloñ se pūchho tum bulandī kū-e-jānāñ kī

ta.ajjub kyā hai us kā ġhairat-e-bāġh-e-iram honā

faqat ye soch kar aañsū bahātā huuñ shab-e-furqat

kabhī to rang lā.egā mirā ye chashm-e-nam honā

chaman ke gosha gosha meñ faqat bijlī kā charchā hai

kuchh aisā rang laayā hai mirā jal kar bhasam honā

tah-e-ḳhanjar bhī hoñToñ par mire aaya to ye aaya

mubārak ho sitam-ījād ko ahl-e-sitam honā

ḳhayāl-e-hūr meñ din-rāt vo badmast rahtā hai

nahīñ kuchh kaam aaya shaiḳh kā ahl-e-haram honā

tavaqqo rahm kī us se na rakh tū ai dil-e-nādāñ

kabhī mumkin nahīñ jallād kā ahl-e-karam honā

adā karke rahūñgā ek din maiñ is farīze ko

agar taqdīr meñ hī likh gayā hai sar qalam honā

hazāroñ ranj-o-ġham sah kar bhī maiñ hañstā huuñ ai 'ahmar'

bashar ke vāste hai lāzmī sābit-qadam honā

na jaega kisi ke gesuon ka KHam-ba-KHam hona

bahut mushkil hai mere shauq ki uljhan ka kam hona

sanam-KHana ho ya kaba jhuka dunga jabin apni

agar sabit hua mujh par tera naqsh-e-qadam hona

bhala kyunkar wo bachta aap ke dam-e-mohabbat se

muqaddar hi mein tha jis ke asir-e-ranj-o-gham hona

na itni de ki main bahkun na tishna-lab rahun saqi

ba-qadr-e-zarf saghar de bura hai besh-o-kam hona

nazar walon se puchho tum bulandi ku-e-jaanan ki

tajjub kya hai us ka ghairat-e-bagh-e-iram hona

faqat ye soch kar aansu bahata hun shab-e-furqat

kabhi to rang laega mera ye chashm-e-nam hona

chaman ke gosha gosha mein faqat bijli ka charcha hai

kuchh aisa rang laya hai mera jal kar bhasam hona

tah-e-KHanjar bhi honTon par mere aaya to ye aaya

mubarak ho sitam-ijad ko ahl-e-sitam hona

KHayal-e-hur mein din-raat wo badmast rahta hai

nahin kuchh kaam aaya shaiKH ka ahl-e-haram hona

tawaqqo rahm ki us se na rakh tu ai dil-e-nadan

kabhi mumkin nahin jallad ka ahl-e-karam hona

ada karke rahunga ek din main is farize ko

agar taqdir mein hi likh gaya hai sar qalam hona

hazaron ranj-o-gham sah kar bhi main hansta hun ai 'ahmar'

bashar ke waste hai lazmi sabit-qadam hona