sikha saki na jo aadab-e-mai wo khu kya thi
jo ye na tha to phir is darja haw-hu kya thi

jo bar-e-dosh raha sar wo kab tha shorida
baha na jis se lahu wo rag-e-gulu kya thi

phir ek zakhm-e-kushada jo dil ko yaad aa jae
wo lazzat-o-khalish-e-sozan-o-rafu kya thi

jo izn-e-am na tha waliyan-e-mai-khana
ye sab numaish-e-paimana-o-subu kya thi

agar nigah-e-jahan ke shumar mein na the hum
to phir hamari ye shohrat bhi chaar-su kya thi

na khun-e-shab tha na shab-khun ye man len lekin
shafaq tulu-e-sahar ko lahu lahu kya thi

jab aa rahi hain bahaaren liye payam-e-junun
ye pairahan ko mere hajat-e-rafu kya thi

tumhein shikayat-e-ahl-e-watan hai kyun sahab
khud apne shahr mein 'ghaalib' ki aabru kya thi