be-thikane hai dil-e-gham-ghin thikane ki kaho
sham-e-hijran dosto kuchh is ke aane ki kaho

han na puchh ek giraftar-e-qafas ki zindagi
ham-safiran-e-chaman kuchh aashiyane ki kaho

ud gaya hai manzil-e-dushwar mein gham ka samand
gesu-e-pur-pech-o-kham ke taziyane ki kaho

baat banti aur baaton se nazar aati nahin
is nigah-e-naz ki baaten banane ki kaho

dastan wo thi jise dil bujhte bujhte kah gaya
sham-e-bazm-e-zindagi ke jhilmilane ki kaho

kuchh dil-e-marhum ki baaten karo ai ahl-e-ilm
jis se virane the aabaad us diwane ki kaho

dastan-e-zindagi bhi kis qadar dilchasp hai
jo azal se chhid gaya hai us fasane ki kaho

ye fusun-e-nim-e-shab ye khwab-saman khamushi
samri fan aankh ke jadu jagane ki kaho

koi kya khaega yun sachchi qasam jhuti qasam
us nigah-e-naz ki saugandh khane ki kaho

sham hi se gosh-bar-awaz hai bazm-e-sukhan
kuchh 'firaq' apni sunao kuchh zamane ki kaho