zamana khuda hai use tum bura mat kaho
magar tum nahin dekhte zamana faqat resman-e-khayal

subuk-maya, nazuk, tawil
judai ki arzan sabil!

wo subhen jo lakhon baras pesh-tar thin,
wo shamen jo lakhon baras baad hongi,

unhen tum nahin dekhte, dekh sakte nahin
ke maujud hain ab bhi, maujud hain wo kahin

magar ye nigahon ke aage jo rassi tani hai
use dekh sakte ho, aur dekhte ho

ke ye wo adam hai
jise hast hone mein muddat lagegi

sitaron ke lamhe, sitaron ke sal!
mere sehan mein ek kam-sin banafshe ka pauda hai

tayyara koi kabhi us ke sar par se guzre
to wo muskuraata hai aur lahlahata hai

goya wo tayyara, us ki mohabbat mein
ahd-e-wafa ke kisi jabr-e-taqat-ruba hi se guzra!

wo khush-emtimadi se kahta hai
lo dekho, kaise isi ek rassi ke donon kinaron

se hum tum bandhe hain!
ye rassi na ho to kahan hum mein tum mein

ho paida ye rah-e-visal?
magar hijr ke in wasilon ko wo dekh sakta nahin

jo sarasar azal se abad tak tane hain!
jahan ye zamana hanuz-e-zamana

faqat ek girah hai!