zindagi ki tha alamat ek hunar be-jaan sa

zindagī kī thā alāmat ik hunar be-jān sā

rah gayā tasvīr koī dekh kar hairān sā

terī yādeñ dafn kar detī haiñ us ke zor ko

roz uThtā to hai dil meñ jā-ba-jā tūfān sā

raunaq-e-shahr-e-riyā tāḳhīr honī thī huī

rāste meñ paḌ gayā thā ik khañDar vīrān sā

aap ā.eñge to vahshat saath le kar ā.eñge

rāsta aatā hai mere ghar pe ik sunsān sā

pūchhne aatā nahīñ koī mire hālāt ab

maiñ vatan meñ ho gayā huuñ apne hī anjān sā

jab safar tai kar liyā tab is kā andāza huā

dekhne ko rāsta to thā bahut āsān sā

koī pūchhe rāhbar se raḳht-e-jāñ raḳht-e-safar

qāfila jaatā kahāñ hai be-sar-o-sāmān sā

kāġhzī phūloñ pe titlī koī aa.ī nahīñ

mez par rakkhā huā thā yuuñ to ik gul-dān sā

zindagi ki tha alamat ek hunar be-jaan sa

rah gaya taswir koi dekh kar hairan sa

teri yaaden dafn kar deti hain us ke zor ko

roz uThta to hai dil mein ja-ba-ja tufan sa

raunaq-e-shahr-e-riya taKHir honi thi hui

raste mein paD gaya tha ek khanDar viran sa

aap aaenge to wahshat sath le kar aaenge

rasta aata hai mere ghar pe ek sunsan sa

puchhne aata nahin koi mere haalat ab

main watan mein ho gaya hun apne hi anjaan sa

jab safar tai kar liya tab is ka andaza hua

dekhne ko rasta to tha bahut aasan sa

koi puchhe rahbar se raKHt-e-jaan raKHt-e-safar

qafila jata kahan hai be-sar-o-saman sa

kaghzi phulon pe titli koi aai nahin

mez par rakkha hua tha yun to ek gul-dan sa