umr-bhar gham se ham-aghosh rahe hum tab’an

'umr-bhar ġham se ham-āġhosh rahe ham tab’an

be-irāda kabhī hañsnā bhī paḌā maslahatan

kyā kiyā tum ne ki paimān-e-vafā toḌ diyā

dil sā ik shahr fanā ho gayā ānan-fānan

kīna-fitrat hī na the mujh ko miTāne vaale

un meñ kuchh log to mā'sūm bhī the tum maslan

is tavaqqo' meñ ki shāyad koī muḌ kar dekhe

bārhā ruk ke chale chal ke ruke ham qasdan

dil bahar-hāl na milnā thā kisī se na milā

saath baiThe bhī zamāne se mile bhī rasman

vo nahīñ haiñ to kisī taur nahīñ dil ko qarār

zindagī vaise to mā'mūl pe hai taqrīban

ziist ik bojh rahī un se bichhaḌ kar 'afzal'

ye alag baat ki jiine ko jiye majbūran

'umr-bhar gham se ham-aghosh rahe hum tab’an

be-irada kabhi hansna bhi paDa maslahatan

kya kiya tum ne ki paiman-e-wafa toD diya

dil sa ek shahr fana ho gaya aanan-fanan

kina-fitrat hi na the mujh ko miTane wale

un mein kuchh log to ma'sum bhi the tum maslan

is tawaqqo' mein ki shayad koi muD kar dekhe

barha ruk ke chale chal ke ruke hum qasdan

dil bahar-haal na milna tha kisi se na mila

sath baiThe bhi zamane se mile bhi rasman

wo nahin hain to kisi taur nahin dil ko qarar

zindagi waise to ma'mul pe hai taqriban

zist ek bojh rahi un se bichhaD kar 'afzal'

ye alag baat ki jine ko jiye majburan