tum se do harf ka KHat bhi nahin likkha jata

tum se do harf kā ḳhat bhī nahīñ likkhā jaatā

jaao ab yuuñ bhī ta'alluq nahīñ toḌā jaatā

dil kā ahvāl na pūchho ki bahut roz hue

is ḳharābe kī taraf maiñ nahīñ aatā jaatā

tishnagī ne kabhī dariyāoñ se milne na diyā

ham jidhar jaate usī raah meñ sahrā jaatā

zindagī! rahne bhī de soch kī had hotī hai

itnā sochā hai ki sadiyoñ meñ na sochā jaatā

us ko andāz-e-taġhāful bhī na aayā ab tak

bhūlne hī ko sahī yaad to rakkhā jaatā

haa.e vo daur ki aañsū bhī na the āñkhoñ meñ

aur chehrā thā ki be-ro.e bhī bhīgā jaatā

bhūltā hī nahīñ vo marhala-e-rāz-o-niyāz

ham manāte to koī aur bhī rūThā jaatā

pas-e-dīvār kā manzar bhī gayā apne saath

sahn-e-vīrān se patthar kahāñ pheñkā jaatā

shaam hote hī koī sham' jalā rakhnī thī

jab darīche se havā aatī to dekhā jaatā

raushnī apne gharoñdoñ meñ chhupī thī varna

shahr ke shahr pe shab-ḳhūn na maarā jaatā

itne aañsū mirī āñkhoñ meñ kahāñ the 'qaisar'

'umr bhar dil ke janāze pe jo royā jaatā

tum se do harf ka KHat bhi nahin likkha jata

jao ab yun bhi ta'alluq nahin toDa jata

dil ka ahwal na puchho ki bahut roz hue

is KHarabe ki taraf main nahin aata jata

tishnagi ne kabhi dariyaon se milne na diya

hum jidhar jate usi rah mein sahra jata

zindagi! rahne bhi de soch ki had hoti hai

itna socha hai ki sadiyon mein na socha jata

us ko andaz-e-taghaful bhi na aaya ab tak

bhulne hi ko sahi yaad to rakkha jata

hae wo daur ki aansu bhi na the aankhon mein

aur chehra tha ki be-roe bhi bhiga jata

bhulta hi nahin wo marhala-e-raaz-o-niyaz

hum manate to koi aur bhi ruTha jata

pas-e-diwar ka manzar bhi gaya apne sath

sahn-e-viran se patthar kahan phenka jata

sham hote hi koi sham' jala rakhni thi

jab dariche se hawa aati to dekha jata

raushni apne gharondon mein chhupi thi warna

shahr ke shahr pe shab-KHun na mara jata

itne aansu meri aankhon mein kahan the 'qaisar'

'umr bhar dil ke janaze pe jo roya jata