to behtar hai yahi

ye tirī āñkhoñ kī be-zārī ye lahje kī thakan

kitne andeshoñ kī hāmil haiñ ye dil kī dhaḌkaneñ

pesh-tar is ke ki ham phir se muḳhālif samt ko

be-ḳhudā-hāfiz kahe chal deñ jhukā kar gardaneñ

aao us dukh ko pukāreñ jis kī shiddat ne hameñ

is qadar ik dūsre ke ġham se vābasta kiyā

vo jo tanhā.ī kā dukh thā talḳh mahrūmī kā dukh

jis ne ham ko dard ke rishte meñ paivasta kiyā

vo jo is ġham se ziyāda jāñ-gusil qātil rahā

vo jo ik sail-e-balā-añgez thā apne liye

jis ke pal pal meñ the sadiyoñ ke samundar maujzan

chīḳhtī yādeñ liye ujḌe hue sapne liye

maiñ bhī nākām-e-vafā thā to bhī mahrūm-e-murād

ham ye samjhe the ki dard-e-mushtarak raas aa gayā

terī khoī muskurāhaT qahqahoñ meñ Dhal ga.ī

merā gum-gashta sukūñ phir se mire paas aa gayā

taptī do-pahroñ meñ āsūda hue baazū mire

terī zulfeñ is tarah bikhrīñ ghaTā.eñ ho ga.iiñ

terā barfīlā badan be-sāḳhta lau de uThā

merī sāñseñ shaam kī bhīgī havā.eñ ho ga.iiñ

zindagī kī sā.ateñ raushan thiiñ sham.oñ kī tarah

jis tarah se shaam guzre jugnuoñ ke shahr meñ

jis tarah mahtāb kī vaadī meñ do saa.e ravāñ

jis tarah ghuñghrū chhanak uTTheñ nashe kī lahr meñ

aao ye socheñ bhī qātil haiñ to behtar hai yahī

phir se ham apne purāne zahr ko amrit kaheñ

tū agar chāhe to ham ik dūsre ko chhoḌ kar

apne apne be-vafāoñ ke liye rote raheñ

ye teri aankhon ki be-zari ye lahje ki thakan

kitne andeshon ki hamil hain ye dil ki dhaDkanen

pesh-tar is ke ki hum phir se muKHalif samt ko

be-KHuda-hafiz kahe chal den jhuka kar gardanen

aao us dukh ko pukaren jis ki shiddat ne hamein

is qadar ek dusre ke gham se wabasta kiya

wo jo tanhai ka dukh tha talKH mahrumi ka dukh

jis ne hum ko dard ke rishte mein paiwasta kiya

wo jo is gham se ziyaada jaan-gusil qatil raha

wo jo ek sail-e-bala-angez tha apne liye

jis ke pal pal mein the sadiyon ke samundar maujzan

chiKHti yaaden liye ujDe hue sapne liye

main bhi nakaam-e-wafa tha to bhi mahrum-e-murad

hum ye samjhe the ki dard-e-mushtarak ras aa gaya

teri khoi muskurahaT qahqahon mein Dhal gai

mera gum-gashta sukun phir se mere pas aa gaya

tapti do-pahron mein aasuda hue bazu mere

teri zulfen is tarah bikhrin ghaTaen ho gain

tera barfila badan be-saKHta lau de uTha

meri sansen sham ki bhigi hawaen ho gain

zindagi ki saaten raushan thin shamon ki tarah

jis tarah se sham guzre jugnuon ke shahr mein

jis tarah mahtab ki wadi mein do sae rawan

jis tarah ghunghru chhanak uTThen nashe ki lahr mein

aao ye sochen bhi qatil hain to behtar hai yahi

phir se hum apne purane zahr ko amrit kahen

tu agar chahe to hum ek dusre ko chhoD kar

apne apne be-wafaon ke liye rote rahen