wo tanha tha to phir tanhai ka dam-saz hona tha

vo tanhā thā to phir tanhā.ī kā dam-sāz honā thā

un āñkhoñ ke liye mujh ko sitāra-sāz honā thā

sabhī ḳhāmosh the āvāz par us kī so aise meñ

mujhe chup to nahīñ rahnā thā ham-āvāz honā thā

jo dil meñ thā vo ik vīrān gumbad hī meñ kah detā

ye merā ahd thā mujh ko asar-andāz honā thā

mire lab par zamāne kī shikāyat kis liye aa.ī

agar ye shor thā to us ko be-āvāz honā thā

na jaane mujh se kitne log the jo sochte ye the

ki in se ik na.ī tārīḳh kā āġhāz honā thā

jahāñ zaḳhmī tamannāoñ kī sarhad ḳhatm hotī thī

vahāñ se ik na.ī ummīd kā āġhāz honā thā

ye kār-e-ishq thā 'ashfāq' mujh se ho nahīñ paayā

mujhe bhī shā.irī meñ sāhib-e-ejāz honā thā

wo tanha tha to phir tanhai ka dam-saz hona tha

un aankhon ke liye mujh ko sitara-saz hona tha

sabhi KHamosh the aawaz par us ki so aise mein

mujhe chup to nahin rahna tha ham-awaz hona tha

jo dil mein tha wo ek viran gumbad hi mein kah deta

ye mera ahd tha mujh ko asar-andaz hona tha

mere lab par zamane ki shikayat kis liye aai

agar ye shor tha to us ko be-awaz hona tha

na jaane mujh se kitne log the jo sochte ye the

ki in se ek nai tariKH ka aaghaz hona tha

jahan zaKHmi tamannaon ki sarhad KHatm hoti thi

wahan se ek nai ummid ka aaghaz hona tha

ye kar-e-ishq tha 'ashfaq' mujh se ho nahin paya

mujhe bhi shairi mein sahib-e-ejaz hona tha