zist be-waada-e-anwar-e-sahar hai ki jo thi

ziist be-va.āda-e-anvār-e-sahar hai ki jo thī

zulmat-e-baḳht ba-har-rañg-o-nazar hai ki jo thī

ishq barbād-kun-e-rāhat-e-dil hai ki jo thā

shoḳhī-e-dost ba-andāz-e-digar hai ki jo thī

aaj bhī koī nahīñ pūchhtā ahl-e-dil ko

aaj bhī zillat-e-arbāb-e-nazar hai ki jo thī

ḳhud-parastī kā rivāj aaj bhī hai aam ki thā

rāstī aaj bhī mohtāj-e-asar hai ki jo thī

aaj bhī jazba-e-iḳhlās pareshāñ hai ki thā

aaj bhī dīda-varī ḳhāk-basar hai ki jo thī

aaj bhī ilm-o-hunar kī nahīñ koī vaq.at

ab bhī nā-qadrī-e-as.hāb-e-hunar hai ki jo thī

aaj bhī mehr-o-vafā kī nahīñ qīmat koī

aaj bhī manzilat-e-kīsa-e-zar hai ki jo thī

kāmrānī pe hai nāzāñ havas-e-hech madār

āshiqī aaj bhī bā-dīda-e-tar hai ki jo thī

rūh-e-iḳhlās to dar-band hai be-pursish-e-hāl

midhat-e-husn sar-e-rāhguzar hai ki jo thī

sāf-goī ko samajhte haiñ yahāñ aib ab bhī

zehniyat aaj bhī ālūda-e-shar hai ki jo thī

asp-e-tāzī ko mayassar nahīñ chārā 'sho.ala'

aur tan-zebī-o-ārā.ish-e-ḳhar hai ki jo thī

zist be-waada-e-anwar-e-sahar hai ki jo thi

zulmat-e-baKHt ba-har-rang-o-nazar hai ki jo thi

ishq barbaad-kun-e-rahat-e-dil hai ki jo tha

shoKHi-e-dost ba-andaz-e-digar hai ki jo thi

aaj bhi koi nahin puchhta ahl-e-dil ko

aaj bhi zillat-e-arbab-e-nazar hai ki jo thi

KHud-parasti ka riwaj aaj bhi hai aam ki tha

rasti aaj bhi mohtaj-e-asar hai ki jo thi

aaj bhi jazba-e-iKHlas pareshan hai ki tha

aaj bhi dida-wari KHak-basar hai ki jo thi

aaj bhi ilm-o-hunar ki nahin koi waqat

ab bhi na-qadri-e-ashab-e-hunar hai ki jo thi

aaj bhi mehr-o-wafa ki nahin qimat koi

aaj bhi manzilat-e-kisa-e-zar hai ki jo thi

kaamrani pe hai nazan hawas-e-hech madar

aashiqi aaj bhi ba-dida-e-tar hai ki jo thi

ruh-e-iKHlas to dar-band hai be-pursish-e-haal

midhat-e-husn sar-e-rahguzar hai ki jo thi

saf-goi ko samajhte hain yahan aib ab bhi

zehniyat aaj bhi aaluda-e-shar hai ki jo thi

asp-e-tazi ko mayassar nahin chaara 'shoala'

aur tan-zebi-o-araish-e-KHar hai ki jo thi