zindagani ki haqiqat tab hi khulti hai miyan
kar-zar-e-zist ki jab nabz rukti hai miyan

roz hum tamir karte hain fasil-e-jism-o-jaan
roz jism-o-jaan se koi int girti hai miyan

khwab se kah do hudud-e-chashm se bahar na ho
aankh se ojhal har ek tabir chubhti hai miyan

kal yahi chehre bahaar-e-husn ki pahchan the
aaj un chehron se gard-e-umr udti hai miyan

khwab hasrat ashk uljhan nala-o-faryaad-o-gham
kisht-e-jaan mein roz fasl-e-dard ugti hai miyan

jhut hai jab khwahish-e-nam-o-numud-o-takht-o-taj
jhut ki khwahish mein kyun kar umr katti hai miyan

wasl ka darkar hain kuchh hijr ke lamhat bhi
wasl ki khwahish mein shiddat yun hi badhti hai miyan

dekh kar 'zakir' gharib-e-shahr ki faqa-kashi
maut apne aap sau sau bar marti hai miyan