arz jo kuchh meri zabani hai
aap-biti nahin kahani hai

jis ne munh madrase ka dekh liya
zindagi mein wo aan-jahani hai

rah maktab ki bhulne ke liye
khak ek ek gali ki chhani hai

padhne likhne mein ji nahin lagta
mar khane ki ye nishani hai

khak padhiye jo ho ghiza aisi
bhat kankar hai dal pani hai

jaur-e-ustad hai na mahr-e-pidar
kis qayamat ki ye girani hai

har juma good-friday hai mera
raat bhi us ki kya suhani hai

par hun imtihan ke dariya se
naw kaghaz ki yun chalani hai

phir bhala hum kahan kahan masjid
ye namaz apni imtihani hai

ye ghazal khub hai 'jalal' miyan
kya salasat hai kya rawani hai

lakhnawi ye jalal garche nahin
kakwi ye jalal-e-sani hai