rah-e-hayat mein aise maqam bhi nikle

rah-e-hayāt meñ aise maqām bhī nikle

jahāñ bhaTakte hue sub.h-o-shām bhī nikle

'ajīb chiiz hai nazroñ kī puḳhta-gīrī bhī

jo puḳhta-kār bahut the vo ḳhaam bhī nikle

mire laboñ pe tirā naam hai to lutf hī kyā

tirī zabāñ se kabhī merā naam bhī nikle

ye kyā ki furqat-e-paiham hī zindagī ban jaa.e

kabhī to rāh-e-salām-o-payām bhī nikle

tamām raat jahāñ mai-kashoñ kā majma' thā

vahīñ se zāhid-e-sad-ehtirām bhī nikle

mudām piite raheñ chand log hī saaqī

tirī taraf se kabhī izn-e-‘ām bhī nikle

banā liyā hai jahāñ aadmī ne jāda-e-ḳhās

usī kī samt koī rāh-e-‘ām bhī nikle

kiyā jo ġhaur tirī be-karāñ tajallī par

to dil ke saath ka.ī aur maqām bhī nikle

kisī ke bas meñ nahīñ kāmyābī-e-manzil

jo sust-rau the vahī tez-gām bhī nikle

isī liye to huuñ pāband-e-mai-kada 'maikash'

usī kī shaam se ab sub.h-e-bām bhī nikle

rah-e-hayat mein aise maqam bhi nikle

jahan bhaTakte hue subh-o-sham bhi nikle

'ajib chiz hai nazron ki puKHta-giri bhi

jo puKHta-kar bahut the wo KHam bhi nikle

mere labon pe tera nam hai to lutf hi kya

teri zaban se kabhi mera nam bhi nikle

ye kya ki furqat-e-paiham hi zindagi ban jae

kabhi to rah-e-salam-o-payam bhi nikle

tamam raat jahan mai-kashon ka majma' tha

wahin se zahid-e-sad-ehtiram bhi nikle

mudam pite rahen chand log hi saqi

teri taraf se kabhi izn-e-‘am bhi nikle

bana liya hai jahan aadmi ne jada-e-KHas

usi ki samt koi rah-e-‘am bhi nikle

kiya jo ghaur teri be-karan tajalli par

to dil ke sath kai aur maqam bhi nikle

kisi ke bas mein nahin kaamyabi-e-manzil

jo sust-rau the wahi tez-gam bhi nikle

isi liye to hun paband-e-mai-kada 'maikash'

usi ki sham se ab subh-e-baam bhi nikle