ruKH pe gard-e-malal thi kya thi

ruḳh pe gard-e-malāl thī kyā thī

hāsil-e-māh-o-sāl thī kyā thī

ek sūrat sī yaad hai ab bhī

aap apnī misāl thī kyā thī

merī jānib uThī thī koī nigah

ek mub.ham savāl thī kyā thī

us ko pā kar bhī us ko pā na sakā

justujū-e-jamāl thī kyā thī

sub.h tak ḳhud se ham-kalām rahā

ye shab-e-jazb-o-hāl thī kyā thī

dil meñ thī par laboñ tak aa na sakī

ārzū-e-visāl thī kyā thī

apne zaḳhmoñ pe ik fasurda hañsī

koshish-e-indimāl thī kyā thī

umar bhar meñ bas ek baar aa.ī

sā.at-e-lā-zavāl thī kyā thī

ḳhuuñ kī pyāsī thī sar-zamīn-e-vatan

ek shahr-e-ḳhayāl thī kyā thī

bā.is-e-ranjish-e-azīzāñ thī

ḳhū-e-kasb-e-kamāl thī kyā thī

ik jhalak lamha-e-farāġhat thī

ek amr-e-muhāl thī kyā thī

koī ḳhvāhāñ na thā ki jins-e-hunar

ek muflis kā maal thī kyā thī

ruKH pe gard-e-malal thi kya thi

hasil-e-mah-o-sal thi kya thi

ek surat si yaad hai ab bhi

aap apni misal thi kya thi

meri jaanib uThi thi koi nigah

ek mubham sawal thi kya thi

us ko pa kar bhi us ko pa na saka

justuju-e-jamal thi kya thi

subh tak KHud se ham-kalam raha

ye shab-e-jazb-o-haal thi kya thi

dil mein thi par labon tak aa na saki

aarzu-e-visal thi kya thi

apne zaKHmon pe ek fasurda hansi

koshish-e-indimal thi kya thi

umar bhar mein bas ek bar aai

saat-e-la-zawal thi kya thi

KHun ki pyasi thi sar-zamin-e-watan

ek shahr-e-KHayal thi kya thi

bais-e-ranjish-e-azizan thi

KHu-e-kasb-e-kamal thi kya thi

ek jhalak lamha-e-faraghat thi

ek amr-e-muhaal thi kya thi

koi KHwahan na tha ki jins-e-hunar

ek muflis ka mal thi kya thi