nishan-e-zindagi

kis ne khīñchī haiñ lakīreñ mire darvāze par

kaun hai jo ki dabe paañv chalā aayā hai

mere be-rañg hayūle kā ta.āqub kartā

maiñ to mohtāt thā aisā kahīñ aate jaate

apne saa.e ko bhī pātāl meñ chhoḌ aatā thā

apnā sāmān uThātā to shab-e-nisf-pahar

dast-e-hushyār miTātā mire qadmoñ kā surāġh

jism har saañs kī āvāz muqaffal rakhtā

ḳhaak hī ḳhaak kī ḳhushbū kā tadāruk kartī

jāntā thā nahīñ mahfūz Thikāna merā

log maujūd haiñ jo mujh pe nazar rakhte haiñ

duur nazdīk nihāñ-ḳhānoñ ke andar baiThe

ek harakat ho to sau aks banā lete haiñ

un kī āñkhoñ meñ khaTaktā hai zar-o-māl mirā

tarz-e-tāmīr mirī mimbar-o-mehrāb mire

un ke ahdāf haiñ dīvār-o-dar-o-bāb mire

aur ik gauhar-e-nāyāb ki tah-ḳhāne meñ

havas-e-dil ko hai asbāb pareshānī kā

merī dīvāngī o vahshat o hairānī par

mujh pe māmūr kuhan-sāl sagān-e-ḳhufta

kal kisī sā.at-e-kamzor kī tārīkī meñ

is kamīñ-gāh meñ sūrāḳh se dar aa.e the

duur dālān ke kone meñ khaḌe hañste haiñ

kis ne khinchi hain lakiren mere darwaze par

kaun hai jo ki dabe panw chala aaya hai

mere be-rang hayule ka taaqub karta

main to mohtat tha aisa kahin aate jate

apne sae ko bhi patal mein chhoD aata tha

apna saman uThata to shab-e-nisf-pahar

dast-e-hushyar miTata mere qadmon ka suragh

jism har sans ki aawaz muqaffal rakhta

KHak hi KHak ki KHushbu ka tadaruk karti

jaanta tha nahin mahfuz Thikana mera

log maujud hain jo mujh pe nazar rakhte hain

dur nazdik nihan-KHanon ke andar baiThe

ek harakat ho to sau aks bana lete hain

un ki aankhon mein khaTakta hai zar-o-mal mera

tarz-e-tamir meri mimbar-o-mehrab mere

un ke ahdaf hain diwar-o-dar-o-bab mere

aur ek gauhar-e-nayab ki tah-KHane mein

hawas-e-dil ko hai asbab pareshani ka

meri diwangi o wahshat o hairani par

mujh pe mamur kuhan-sal sagan-e-KHufta

kal kisi saat-e-kamzor ki tariki mein

is kamin-gah mein suraKH se dar aae the

dur dalan ke kone mein khaDe hanste hain