wo jin ki lau se hazaron charagh jalte the
charagh baad-e-fana ne bujhae hain kya kya

na tab-e-did na be-dekhe chain hi aae
hamare haal pe wo muskurae hain kya kya

raza o sabr o qanaat tawazo o taslim
falak ne hum ko khasail sikhae hain kya kya

laraz gaya hai jahan dast-e-katib-e-taqdir
hamari zist mein lamhat aae hain kya kya

naqab uthao to qissa hi khatm ho jae
tumhaare parda ne fitne uthae hain kya kya

zamana halka sa khaka na le saka jin ka
nuqush dast-e-qaza ne mitae hain kya kya

ye panj-shil ye jamhuriyat ye ray-e-awam
ye ahl-e-zar ne khilaune banae hain kya kya

bala-e-jaan hui 'wasif' ki be-gunahi bhi
zara si baat mein ilzam aae hain kya kya