shahr se kya gai jaanib-e-dasht-ezar zindagi faKHta

shahr se kyā ga.ī jānib-e-dasht-ezar zindagī fāḳhta

bain karne lagī aa ke shām-o-sahar mātamī fāḳhta

mar gayā raat ko barf oḌhe hue ek fōtpath par

vo jo kahtā rahā lafz vo umr-bhar shāñtī fāḳhta

kaisī kaisī havā.eñ chalīñ baaġh meñ kaun aayā gayā

saarī tabdīliyoñ se rahī be-ḳhabar bāvrī fāḳhta

vo nagar chāñd kā hai vahāñ terī kirnoñ kī ḳhvāhish kise

is taraf tīrgī hai yahāñ lā ke dhar tashtarī fāḳhta

be-amāñ shahr meñ kaisī dahshat se guzrī thī maiñ kyā kahūñ

jab adū dekhtī apne hī bāl-o-par nochtī fāḳhta

vo jo āñkhoñ meñ thī koī duniyā alag thī jahāñ se judā

mere ḳhvāboñ meñ the amn kā rāhbar raushnī fāḳhta

maiñ thā shā.ir mujhe shahr-āshob likhne the likhtā rahā

terī qismat meñ likhe ga.e kyuuñ khañDar sundarī fāḳhta

shahr se kya gai jaanib-e-dasht-ezar zindagi faKHta

bain karne lagi aa ke sham-o-sahar matami faKHta

mar gaya raat ko barf oDhe hue ek footpath par

wo jo kahta raha lafz wo umr-bhar shanti faKHta

kaisi kaisi hawaen chalin bagh mein kaun aaya gaya

sari tabdiliyon se rahi be-KHabar bawri faKHta

wo nagar chand ka hai wahan teri kirnon ki KHwahish kise

is taraf tirgi hai yahan la ke dhar tashtari faKHta

be-aman shahr mein kaisi dahshat se guzri thi main kya kahun

jab adu dekhti apne hi baal-o-par nochti faKHta

wo jo aankhon mein thi koi duniya alag thi jahan se juda

mere KHwabon mein the amn ka rahbar raushni faKHta

main tha shair mujhe shahr-ashob likhne the likhta raha

teri qismat mein likhe gae kyun khanDar sundari faKHta