falak un se jo badh kar bad-chalan hota to kya hota
jawan se pesh-rau pir-e-kuhan hota to kya hota

musallam dekh kar yaqub murde se hue bad-tar
jo yusuf ka darida pairahan hota to kya hota

hamara koh-e-gham kya sang-e-khara hai jo kat jata
agar mar mar ke zinda kohkan hota to kya hota

ata ki chadar-e-gard us ne apne marne walon ko
hui khilqat ki ye surat kafan hota to kya hota

nigah-ban jal gae chaar aankhen hote dekh kar us se
kalim aasa kahin wo ham-sukhan hota to kya hota

bada bad-ahd hai is shohrat-e-ifa-e-wada par
agar mashhur tu paiman-shikan hota to kya hota

muqaddar mein to likkhi hai gadai ku-e-jaanan ki
agar 'afsar' shahanshah-e-zaman hota to kya hota