ek taswir

rāh-e-ulfat kī rivāyāt-e-kuhan zinda haiñ

sar-ba-kaf ahl-e-vafā bahr-e-tamāshā guzre

dard kī raat vahī karb kā ehsās vahī

āmad-e-sub.h-e-tamanna kā gumāñ kyā guzre

ḳhauf kaliyoñ kā tabassum bhī churā letā hai

ufuq-e-jabr añdheroñ kā patā detā hai

ek tasvīr jo āvezāñ thī aivānoñ meñ

ḳhuun kā ġhāza male husn-e-sitam ho jaise

paikar-e-tamkanat-o-nāz-o-ġhurūr-e-bātil

dar-e-zindāñ pe tashaddud kā alam ho jaise

ab vo tasvīr kisī gosha-e-aivāñ meñ nahīñ

zikr us but kā kisī bazm-e-shabistāñ meñ nahīñ

is se pahle bhī ka.ī baar huā hai aisā

phir bhī arbāb-e-havas zahr-e-havas piite haiñ

ādamiyyat kā taqaddus hai pashemāñ un se

dast-e-ta.azīr se zaḳhmoñ ke dahan siite haiñ

vaqt kā silsila-e-shām-o-sahar yaad nahīñ

un ko tārīḳh kā andāz-e-safar yaad nahīñ

rah-e-ulfat ki riwayat-e-kuhan zinda hain

sar-ba-kaf ahl-e-wafa bahr-e-tamasha guzre

dard ki raat wahi karb ka ehsas wahi

aamad-e-subh-e-tamanna ka guman kya guzre

KHauf kaliyon ka tabassum bhi chura leta hai

ufuq-e-jabr andheron ka pata deta hai

ek taswir jo aawezan thi aiwanon mein

KHun ka ghaza male husn-e-sitam ho jaise

paikar-e-tamkanat-o-naz-o-ghurur-e-baatil

dar-e-zindan pe tashaddud ka alam ho jaise

ab wo taswir kisi gosha-e-aiwan mein nahin

zikr us but ka kisi bazm-e-shabistan mein nahin

is se pahle bhi kai bar hua hai aisa

phir bhi arbab-e-hawas zahr-e-hawas pite hain

aadamiyyat ka taqaddus hai pasheman un se

dast-e-tazir se zaKHmon ke dahan site hain

waqt ka silsila-e-sham-o-sahar yaad nahin

un ko tariKH ka andaz-e-safar yaad nahin