baḌe azaab meñ huuñ mujh ko jaan bhī hai aziiz

sitam ko dekh ke chup bhī rahā nahīñ jaatā

baDe azab mein hun mujh ko jaan bhi hai aziz

sitam ko dekh ke chup bhi raha nahin jata

zaḳhm lagā kar us kā bhī kuchh haath khulā

maiñ bhī dhokā khā kar kuchh chālāk huā

zaKHm laga kar us ka bhi kuchh hath khula

main bhi dhoka kha kar kuchh chaalak hua

dil hai ki tirī yaad se ḳhālī nahīñ rahtā

shāyad hī kabhī maiñ ne tujhe yaad kiyā ho

dil hai ki teri yaad se KHali nahin rahta

shayad hi kabhi main ne tujhe yaad kiya ho

mirī jagah koī ā.īna rakh liyā hotā

na jaane tere tamāshe meñ merā kaam hai kyā

meri jagah koi aaina rakh liya hota

na jaane tere tamashe mein mera kaam hai kya

dil ko sambhāle hañstā boltā rahtā huuñ lekin

sach pūchho to 'zeb' tabī.at Thiik nahīñ hotī

dil ko sambhaale hansta bolta rahta hun lekin

sach puchho to 'zeb' tabiat Thik nahin hoti

adhūrī chhoḌ ke tasvīr mar gayā vo 'zeb'

koī bhī rañg mayassar na thā lahū ke sivā

adhuri chhoD ke taswir mar gaya wo 'zeb'

koi bhi rang mayassar na tha lahu ke siwa

ghasīTte hue ḳhud ko phiroge 'zeb' kahāñ

chalo ki ḳhaak ko de aa.eñ ye badan us kā

ghasiTte hue KHud ko phiroge 'zeb' kahan

chalo ki KHak ko de aaen ye badan us ka

jaag ke mere saath samundar rāteñ kartā hai

jab sab log chale jaa.eñ to bāteñ kartā hai

jag ke mere sath samundar raaten karta hai

jab sab log chale jaen to baaten karta hai

ye kam hai kyā ki mire paas baiThā rahtā hai

vo jab talak mire dil ko dukhā nahīñ jaatā

ye kam hai kya ki mere pas baiTha rahta hai

wo jab talak mere dil ko dukha nahin jata

maiñ laakh ise taaza rakhūñ dil ke lahū se

lekin tirī tasvīr ḳhayālī hī rahegī

main lakh ise taza rakhun dil ke lahu se

lekin teri taswir KHayali hi rahegi

kuchh duur tak to chamkī thī mere lahū kī dhaar

phir raat apne saath bahā le ga.ī mujhe

kuchh dur tak to chamki thi mere lahu ki dhaar

phir raat apne sath baha le gai mujhe

talāsh ek bahāna thā ḳhaak uḌāne kā

pata chalā ki hameñ justujū-e-yār na thī

talash ek bahana tha KHak uDane ka

pata chala ki hamein justuju-e-yar na thi

ek kiran bas raushniyoñ meñ sharīk nahīñ hotī

dil ke bujhne se duniyā tārīk nahīñ hotī

ek kiran bas raushniyon mein sharik nahin hoti

dil ke bujhne se duniya tarik nahin hoti

maiñ to chaak pe kūza-gar ke haath kī miTTī huuñ

ab ye miTTī dekh khilaunā kaise bantī hai

main to chaak pe kuza-gar ke hath ki miTTi hun

ab ye miTTi dekh khilauna kaise banti hai

ye Dūbtī huī kyā shai hai terī āñkhoñ meñ

tire laboñ pe jo raushan hai us kā naam hai kyā

ye Dubti hui kya shai hai teri aankhon mein

tere labon pe jo raushan hai us ka nam hai kya

khulī chhatoñ se chāñdnī rāteñ katrā jā.eñgī

kuchh ham bhī tanhā.ī ke aadī ho jā.eñge

khuli chhaton se chandni raaten katra jaengi

kuchh hum bhi tanhai ke aadi ho jaenge

ulaT rahī thiiñ havā.eñ varaq varaq us kā

likhī ga.ī thī jo miTTī pe vo kitāb thā vo

ulaT rahi thin hawaen waraq waraq us ka

likhi gai thi jo miTTi pe wo kitab tha wo

na jaane kyā hai ki jab bhī maiñ us ko dekhtā huuñ

to koī aur mire rū-ba-rū nikaltā hai

na jaane kya hai ki jab bhi main us ko dekhta hun

to koi aur mere ru-ba-ru nikalta hai

dho ke tū merā lahū apne hunar ko na chhupā

ki ye surḳhī tirī shamshīr kā jauhar hī to hai

dho ke tu mera lahu apne hunar ko na chhupa

ki ye surKHi teri shamshir ka jauhar hi to hai

dekh kabhī aa kar ye lā-mahdūd fazā

tū bhī merī tanhā.ī meñ shāmil ho

dekh kabhi aa kar ye la-mahdud faza

tu bhi meri tanhai mein shamil ho

ek jhoñkā havā kā aayā 'zeb'

aur phir maiñ ġhubār bhī na rahā

ek jhonka hawa ka aaya 'zeb'

aur phir main ghubar bhi na raha