dilli ka purana qila

zamāne Dhal ga.e hālāt kī tahrīr baaqī hai

purāne husn kī TuuTī huī tasvīr baaqī hai

na vo shamshīr baaqī hai na vo tauqīr baaqī hai

magar tārīḳh meñ lipTī huī ta.amīr baaqī hai

fazā-e-hast ke raahī maqām-e-būd par pahuñche

nuqūsh-e-rahguzar meñ partav-e-rahgīr baaqī hai

jo shohrat aam thī pahle ga.ī sadiyoñ ke madfan meñ

magar āsār meñ simTī huī tash.hīr baaqī hai

baqā ke ḳhvāb saare Dhal ga.e ḳhvāb-e-musalsal meñ

ye un ḳhvāboñ kī pathrā.ī huī ta.abīr baaqī hai

mazāq-e-ām sarf-e-kam-nigāhī hai to rahne do

dil-e-shā.ir kī āñkhoñ meñ abhī tanvīr baaqī hai

tilā.ī nuqra.ī jazbāt ke sāñche meñ Dhalne ko

rag-e-taḳh.īl par ik nashtar-e-tāsīr baaqī hai

ye buniyādoñ kī gahrā.ī ye dīvāroñ kī bebākī

jahāñ tamhīd qaa.em hai vahīñ ta.amīr baaqī hai

ye mazbūtī kī añgḌā.ī ye bal khātī fasīl-e-sang

vahī ik āhanī fitrat vahī zanjīr baaqī hai

kamīñ-gāhoñ kī peshānī kanakhiyoñ se murassā hai

tahaffuz kī kaḌī āñkhoñ kī kuchh tāsīr baaqī hai

ye be-tartīb patthar jhāḌiyāñ khaDDe ye hariyālī

kahīñ āġhosh-e-fitrat hai kahīñ ta.amīr baaqī hai

sarishk-e-yād nā-mumkin sahī duniyā kī āñkhoñ meñ

zabān-e-hāl par ik ālam-e-taqdīr baaqī hai

ye ḳhalvat-zār rūmānoñ se vābasta rahe yā-rab

ki tadbīroñ kī gardan par abhī taqdīr baaqī hai

zamane Dhal gae haalat ki tahrir baqi hai

purane husn ki TuTi hui taswir baqi hai

na wo shamshir baqi hai na wo tauqir baqi hai

magar tariKH mein lipTi hui tamir baqi hai

faza-e-hast ke rahi maqam-e-bud par pahunche

nuqush-e-rahguzar mein partaw-e-rahgir baqi hai

jo shohrat aam thi pahle gai sadiyon ke madfan mein

magar aasar mein simTi hui tashhir baqi hai

baqa ke KHwab sare Dhal gae KHwab-e-musalsal mein

ye un KHwabon ki pathrai hui tabir baqi hai

mazaq-e-am sarf-e-kam-nigahi hai to rahne do

dil-e-shair ki aankhon mein abhi tanwir baqi hai

tilai nuqrai jazbaat ke sanche mein Dhalne ko

rag-e-taKHil par ek nashtar-e-tasir baqi hai

ye buniyaadon ki gahrai ye diwaron ki bebaki

jahan tamhid qaem hai wahin tamir baqi hai

ye mazbuti ki angDai ye bal khati fasil-e-sang

wahi ek aahani fitrat wahi zanjir baqi hai

kamin-gahon ki peshani kanakhiyon se murassa hai

tahaffuz ki kaDi aankhon ki kuchh tasir baqi hai

ye be-tartib patthar jhaDiyan khaDDe ye hariyali

kahin aaghosh-e-fitrat hai kahin tamir baqi hai

sarishk-e-yaad na-mumkin sahi duniya ki aankhon mein

zaban-e-haal par ek aalam-e-taqdir baqi hai

ye KHalwat-zar rumanon se wabasta rahe ya-rab

ki tadbiron ki gardan par abhi taqdir baqi hai