zindagi yun bhi kabhi mujhko saza deti hai

zindagī yuuñ bhī kabhī mujh ko sazā detī hai

ek tasvīr kitāboñ se girā detī hai

aap achchhe haiñ bure haiñ ki faqat bār-e-hayāt

faisla ḳhalq-e-ḳhudā ḳhud hī sunā detī hai

kitne nādīda manāzir se uThātī hai naqāb

raat aatī hai to ḳhvāboñ ko jagā detī hai

ab bhī mehrāb-e-tamannā meñ kasak maazī kī

shaam hote hī koī sham.a jalā detī hai

ishq hai rog hī aisā ki nahīñ is kā ilaaj

ātish-e-dil ko davā aur baḌhā detī hai

sīna-e-sañg meñ poshīda sadā-e-farhād

ek ik zarb pe shīrīñ kā pata detī hai

jis kī āġhosh meñ ham roz milā karte the

ab vahī shaam har ek shaam sadā detī hai

maiñ kahāñ aur kahāñ sher-o-suḳhan hai 'zākir'

koī tāqat hai jo lafzoñ ko jilā detī hai

zindagi yun bhi kabhi mujh ko saza deti hai

ek taswir kitabon se gira deti hai

aap achchhe hain bure hain ki faqat bar-e-hayat

faisla KHalq-e-KHuda KHud hi suna deti hai

kitne nadida manazir se uThati hai naqab

raat aati hai to KHwabon ko jaga deti hai

ab bhi mehrab-e-tamanna mein kasak mazi ki

sham hote hi koi shama jala deti hai

ishq hai rog hi aisa ki nahin is ka ilaj

aatish-e-dil ko dawa aur baDha deti hai

sina-e-sang mein poshida sada-e-farhad

ek ek zarb pe shirin ka pata deti hai

jis ki aaghosh mein hum roz mila karte the

ab wahi sham har ek sham sada deti hai

main kahan aur kahan sher-o-suKHan hai 'zakir'

koi taqat hai jo lafzon ko jila deti hai