zarā ai josh-e-ġham rahne de qaabū meñ zabāñ merī

vo sunñā chāhte haiñ ḳhud mujhī se dāstāñ merī

zara ai josh-e-gham rahne de qabu mein zaban meri

wo sunna chahte hain KHud mujhi se dastan meri

toḌnā tauba kā sau baar bhī āsāñ thā magar

jām-e-mai mujh se to ik baar bhī toḌā na gayā

toDna tauba ka sau bar bhi aasan tha magar

jam-e-mai mujh se to ek bar bhi toDa na gaya

jitnī tavaqquāt thiiñ sab ḳhatm ho chukīñ

maiñ 'ārfī' kisī se bhī ab sargirāñ nahīñ

jitni tawaqquat thin sab KHatm ho chukin

main 'arfi' kisi se bhi ab sargiran nahin

ab mire vāste har mauj hai āġhosh-e-sukūñ

bahr-e-ġham meñ jo nahīñ hai koī sāhil na sahī

ab mere waste har mauj hai aaghosh-e-sukun

bahr-e-gham mein jo nahin hai koi sahil na sahi

sukūn-e-iztirāb-e-ġham pe chāra-sāz to ḳhush haiñ

dil-e-betāb kī lekin qazā ma.alūm hotī hai

sukun-e-iztirab-e-gham pe chaara-saz to KHush hain

dil-e-betab ki lekin qaza malum hoti hai

dil ko tapish-e-shauq kī ye lazzat-e-paiham

mil to ga.ī lekin baḌī mushkil se milī hai

dil ko tapish-e-shauq ki ye lazzat-e-paiham

mil to gai lekin baDi mushkil se mili hai

aa.ī ḳhizāñ kī yaad to dil sard ho gayā

kuchh der bhī to lutf na aayā bahār kā

aai KHizan ki yaad to dil sard ho gaya

kuchh der bhi to lutf na aaya bahaar ka

mohabbat ḳhud mohabbat kā sila hai 'ārfī' lekin

koī āsān hai kyā be-niyāz-e-mudda.ā honā

mohabbat KHud mohabbat ka sila hai 'arfi' lekin

koi aasan hai kya be-niyaz-e-muddaa hona

ek hī phuul thā bas gul-kada-e-husn meñ tū

chun liyā aañkh meñ apnī tire shaidā.ī ne

ek hi phul tha bas gul-kada-e-husn mein tu

chun liya aankh mein apni tere shaidai ne

mirī har aah āh-e-be-asar hai

vafūr-e-yās terī bad-gumānī

meri har aah aah-e-be-asar hai

wafur-e-yas teri bad-gumani

bahut badlā mazāq-e-dil ḳhayāl-e-yār ne lekin

jo shāyān-e-mazāq-e-yār thā aisā kahāñ badlā

bahut badla mazaq-e-dil KHayal-e-yar ne lekin

jo shayan-e-mazaq-e-yar tha aisa kahan badla

hai 'ārfī' ab ye asar-e-tark-e-tamannā

aane lage vo aur bhī kuchh had se sivā yaad

hai 'arfi' ab ye asar-e-tark-e-tamanna

aane lage wo aur bhi kuchh had se siwa yaad