rabt kis se tha kise kis ka shanasa kaun tha

rabt kis se thā kise kis kā shanāsā kaun thā

shahr bhar tanhā thā lekin mujh sā tanhā kaun thā

maiñ samundar thā magar vīrāñ thā sahrā kī tarah

mere ghar tak chal ke aatā itnā pyāsā kaun thā

reza-e-sañg-e-anā thā raah kā koh-e-girāñ

baḌh ke lag jaatā mire siine se aisā kaun thā

sat.h par ḳhāmoshiyoñ kī guuñj hai nauha-kunāñ

apnī gahrā.ī ke dariyā meñ jo Duubā kaun thā

zaat āḳhir zaat thī shahkār phir shahkār thī

kis ke fan ke vāste se kis ko samjhā kaun thā

paañv dhartī par the lekin zehn the ākāsh par

sab ke sab merī tarah bikhre the yakjā kaun thā

kuchh bure the kuchh bhale the ḳhaar kuchh gulzār kuchh

har koī insān thā āḳhir farishta kaun thā

vo bhaḌak uTThā to 'ḳhālid' sochtā hī rah gayā

ḳhūb-rū paikar ke andar tund-ḳhū sā kaun thā

rabt kis se tha kise kis ka shanasa kaun tha

shahr bhar tanha tha lekin mujh sa tanha kaun tha

main samundar tha magar viran tha sahra ki tarah

mere ghar tak chal ke aata itna pyasa kaun tha

reza-e-sang-e-ana tha rah ka koh-e-giran

baDh ke lag jata mere sine se aisa kaun tha

sath par KHamoshiyon ki gunj hai nauha-kunan

apni gahrai ke dariya mein jo Duba kaun tha

zat aaKHir zat thi shahkar phir shahkar thi

kis ke fan ke waste se kis ko samjha kaun tha

panw dharti par the lekin zehn the aakash par

sab ke sab meri tarah bikhre the yakja kaun tha

kuchh bure the kuchh bhale the KHar kuchh gulzar kuchh

har koi insan tha aaKHir farishta kaun tha

wo bhaDak uTTha to 'KHalid' sochta hi rah gaya

KHub-ru paikar ke andar tund-KHu sa kaun tha