sae jo sang-e-rah the raste se haT gae

saa.e jo sañg-e-rāh the raste se haT ga.e

dil jal uThā to ḳhud hī añdhere simaT ga.e

din bhar jale jo dhuup ke bistar pe dosto

sūraj chhupā to chādar-e-shab meñ simaT ga.e

vo karb thā ki dil kā lahū aañch de uThā

aisī havā chalī ki garebān phaT ga.e

vo fikr thī ki dīda-o-dil muzmahil hue

vo gard thī ki ghar ke dar-o-bām aT ga.e

aa.ī jo mauj paañv zamīñ par na jam sake

dariyā chaḌhā to kitne safīne ulaT ga.e

phailā ġhubār-e-ġham to kahīñ muñh chhupā liyā

āñdhī uThī to ghar ke sutūñ se lipaT ga.e

kahte the jis ko qurb vahī fāsla banā

badlā jo ruḳh nadī ne ka.ī shahr kaT ga.e

gumnām the to sab kī taraf dekhte the ham

shohrat milī to apnī ḳhudī meñ simaT ga.e

dastak huī to dil kā darīcha na khul sakā

aa.e aur aa ke yaad ke jhoñke palaT ga.e

maiñ ḳhud hī apnī raah kā patthar banā rahā

har chand aap bhī mire raste se haT ga.e

dil ko kisī kī yaad kā ġham chāTtā rahā

yuuñ merī zindagī ke ka.ī saal ghaT ga.e

zindān-e-ġham kā dhyān bhī ḳhanjar se kam na thā

zanjīr kī khanak se mire paañv kaT ga.e

riste raheñge dīda-e-hasrat se umr bhar

'zulfī' jo zaḳhm pā-e-talab se chimaT ga.e

sae jo sang-e-rah the raste se haT gae

dil jal uTha to KHud hi andhere simaT gae

din bhar jale jo dhup ke bistar pe dosto

suraj chhupa to chadar-e-shab mein simaT gae

wo karb tha ki dil ka lahu aanch de uTha

aisi hawa chali ki gareban phaT gae

wo fikr thi ki dida-o-dil muzmahil hue

wo gard thi ki ghar ke dar-o-baam aT gae

aai jo mauj panw zamin par na jam sake

dariya chaDha to kitne safine ulaT gae

phaila ghubar-e-gham to kahin munh chhupa liya

aandhi uThi to ghar ke sutun se lipaT gae

kahte the jis ko qurb wahi fasla bana

badla jo ruKH nadi ne kai shahr kaT gae

gumnam the to sab ki taraf dekhte the hum

shohrat mili to apni KHudi mein simaT gae

dastak hui to dil ka daricha na khul saka

aae aur aa ke yaad ke jhonke palaT gae

main KHud hi apni rah ka patthar bana raha

har chand aap bhi mere raste se haT gae

dil ko kisi ki yaad ka gham chaTta raha

yun meri zindagi ke kai sal ghaT gae

zindan-e-gham ka dhyan bhi KHanjar se kam na tha

zanjir ki khanak se mere panw kaT gae

riste rahenge dida-e-hasrat se umr bhar

'zulfi' jo zaKHm pa-e-talab se chimaT gae