zindagi bhar hum jise kahte rahe hain zindagi

zindagī bhar ham jise kahte rahe haiñ zindagī

hai faqat tasvīr-e-hasrat sar-basar tishna-labī

chāhatoñ ke shoḳh naġhmoñ se musalsal kheltī

aas kī mastī fazā meñ duur tak lahrā ga.ī

phir udāsī shaam kī kuchh aur gahrī ho ga.ī

phir kisī ġhā.eb-shuda manzar kī hai jādūgarī

manziloñ kī ik shagufta manzarī ko nāptī

sāñvlī sī ik thakan hai manziloñ ke paas hī

yuuñ musalsal mauj meñ hai ek tūfān-e-nafī

mutma.in hai zaḳhm-e-dil se zaḳhm-e-dil kī tāzgī

yaad terī kuchh dabe paañv hī shāyad aa ga.ī

dastakeñ haiñ ab dar-e-dil par bahut ḳhāmosh sī

mun.akis hai shoḳh nuqtoñ par mizāj-e-shā.erī

ek sanjīda tanavvo lahja lahja puḳhtagī

lamha lamha kuchh na.ī be-tābiyoñ se āshnā

nit-na.e tevar badaltī hai fazā bhar āgahī

in laboñ par saj ga.ī harf-e-ijāzat kī tarah

ik ġhalat andāz lahje kī hasīñ āvārgī

gungunāte haiñ sitāre jhilmilātī loriyāñ

vaqt ko shāyad fazā kī god meñ niiñd aa ga.ī

bebasī kuchh is tarah likkhī hai chehre par mire

āñktā hai har bashar yaksar mirī bechārgī

ab sameTo dāstānoñ kā bikhartā silsila

hai navā-e-nīm-shab kī sādhnā ḳhāmoshī sī

zindagi bhar hum jise kahte rahe hain zindagi

hai faqat taswir-e-hasrat sar-basar tishna-labi

chahaton ke shoKH naghmon se musalsal khelti

aas ki masti faza mein dur tak lahra gai

phir udasi sham ki kuchh aur gahri ho gai

phir kisi ghaeb-shuda manzar ki hai jadugari

manzilon ki ek shagufta manzari ko napti

sanwli si ek thakan hai manzilon ke pas hi

yun musalsal mauj mein hai ek tufan-e-nafi

mutmain hai zaKHm-e-dil se zaKHm-e-dil ki tazgi

yaad teri kuchh dabe panw hi shayad aa gai

dastaken hain ab dar-e-dil par bahut KHamosh si

munakis hai shoKH nuqton par mizaj-e-shaeri

ek sanjida tanawwo lahja lahja puKHtagi

lamha lamha kuchh nai be-tabiyon se aashna

nit-nae tewar badalti hai faza bhar aagahi

in labon par saj gai harf-e-ijazat ki tarah

ek ghalat andaz lahje ki hasin aawargi

gungunate hain sitare jhilmilati loriyan

waqt ko shayad faza ki god mein nind aa gai

bebasi kuchh is tarah likkhi hai chehre par mere

aankta hai har bashar yaksar meri bechaargi

ab sameTo dastanon ka bikharta silsila

hai nawa-e-nim-shab ki sadhna KHamoshi si