aalam-e-be-chehragi mein kaun kis ka aashna
aaj ka har lafz hai mafhum se na-ashna

kaun hota hai zamane mein kisi ka aashna
log hona chahte hain khud zamana-ashna

sochta hun kaun si manzil hai ye idrak ki
zarra zarra aashna hai patta patta aashna

chat jati hai jinhen suraj ki pyasi raushni
kash ho jaen kisi din wo bhi dariya-ashna

tishnagi aai sarabon se guzar kar aab tak
sahil-e-dariya magar ab tak hai sahra-ashna

zauq-e-khud-bini ki taskin-e-ana ke waste
kitne hi na-ashnaon ko banaya aashna

kash ho jae teri aankhon pe khwabon ka nuzul
kash ho jae tera dil bhi tamanna-ashna

kaun pahchanega hum ko kaun puchhega mizaj
kaun hai apne siwa 'qaisar' hamara aashna