hath phaila na sake bhik ke pyalon ki tarah
hum se manga na gaya mangne walon ki tarah

kar na gulshan mein uchhal-kud ghazalon ki tarah
chal bahut soch ke shatranj ki chaalon ki tarah

faqa-maston pe inayat niwalon ki tarah
har niwale mein magar tanz bhi baalon ki tarah

hum rah-e-zist se guzre hain ujalon ki tarah
yaad rakkhenge hamein log misalon ki tarah

koi uthta hi nahin shahr mein qatil ke khilaf
haq-nawaon ke bhi munh band the talon ki tarah

hum mein tahzib-o-tamaddun bhi adab bhi fan bhi
kal padhe jaenge hum log maqalon ki tarah

tujh se jo koi mila khun mein naha kar lauta
lahja barchhi tera alfaz hain bhaalon ki tarah

ahl-e-zarf aape se bahar nahin hote 'arif'
hum samundar the na biphre nadi nalon ki tarah