ghani aabaadiyon ki be-amani ka tamasha kar
nikal kar ghar se marg-e-na-gahani ka tamasha kar

jo zinda aag mein dale gae lashen na gin un ki
jo bach nikle hain un ki sakht-jaani ka tamasha kar

jo takht-o-taj ke malik hain kya wo mo'tabar bhi hain
shar-angezi mein dubi hukmarani ka tamasha kar

bacha kya rah gaya kalak bhare jhulse makanon mein
ujadi bastiyon ki be-nishani ka tamasha kar

nai tarikh ke safhon pe likkha ja raha hai kya
huruf-e-qahr ki aatish-fishani ka tamasha kar

jo dil mein hai use na-gufta rahne de to behtar hai
badalti surat-e-harf-o-maani ka tamasha kar

na koi khwab baqi hai na aansu khushk aankhon mein
tahi-daston ki gum-sum nauha-khwani ka tamasha kar

har ek shab shukr kar teri abhi gardan salamat hai
har ek din sail-e-khun ki be-karani ka tamasha kar

qayamat sar tak aa pahunchi hai rakh le hath aankhon par
mata-e-zindagi ki raegani ka tamasha kar