aaghaz-e-ashiqi ka allah re zamana
har baat bahki bahki har gam walihana

wo sajda-ha-e-paiham wo un ka aastana
ai kash laut aae guzra hua zamana

kaunain ki tawajjoh us be-rukhi pe sadqe
honton pe hai tabassum tewar mukhalifana

mujh ko na thi gawara apni shikast lekin
kya kahiye us nazar ka andaz-e-fatehana

sau bar dekh kar bhi yun muztarib hain nazren
jaise guzar gaya ho dekhe hue zamana

mahsus ho chali hain tanhaiyan unhen bhi
rakkhe khuda salamat pindar-e-ashiqana

kya ikhtiyar apna majburiyon pe dil ki
mana ki mashwara hai naseh ka mukhlisana

phir chand aur sitare phaila rahe hain zulmat
ek teri yaad se tha raushan siyah-khana

rabt-e-nigah-o-dil ko muddat hui hai 'arshi'
un ka mera taaruf ab tak hai ghaebana