sadiyon tawil raat ke zanu se sar uTha

sadiyoñ tavīl raat ke zaanū se sar uThā

sūraj ufuq se jhāñk rahā hai nazar uThā

itnī burī nahīñ hai khañDar kī zamīn bhī

is Dher ko sameT na.e bām-o-dar uThā

mumkin hai koī haath samundar lapeT de

kashtī meñ sau shigāf hoñ lañgar magar uThā

shāḳh-e-chaman meñ aag lagā kar gayā thā kyuuñ

ab ye azāb-e-dar-badrī umr bhar uThā

manzil pe aa ke dekh rahā huuñ maiñ aa.ina

kitnā ġhubār thā jo sar-e-rahguzar uThā

sahrā meñ thoḌī der Thaharnā ġhalat na thā

le gard-bād baiTh gayā ab to sar uThā

dastak meñ koī dard kī ḳhushbū zarūr thī

darvāza kholne ke liye ghar kā ghar uThā

'qaisar' matā-e-dil kā ḳharīdār kaun hai

bāzār ujaḌ gayā hai dukān-e-hunar uThā

sadiyon tawil raat ke zanu se sar uTha

suraj ufuq se jhank raha hai nazar uTha

itni buri nahin hai khanDar ki zamin bhi

is Dher ko sameT nae baam-o-dar uTha

mumkin hai koi hath samundar lapeT de

kashti mein sau shigaf hon langar magar uTha

shaKH-e-chaman mein aag laga kar gaya tha kyun

ab ye azab-e-dar-badri umr bhar uTha

manzil pe aa ke dekh raha hun main aaina

kitna ghubar tha jo sar-e-rahguzar uTha

sahra mein thoDi der Thaharna ghalat na tha

le gard-baad baiTh gaya ab to sar uTha

dastak mein koi dard ki KHushbu zarur thi

darwaza kholne ke liye ghar ka ghar uTha

'qaisar' mata-e-dil ka KHaridar kaun hai

bazar ujaD gaya hai dukan-e-hunar uTha