behtar nahin raha kabhi kamtar nahin raha
main zist mein kisi ke barabar nahin raha

dasht-e-firaq dhup ghazab ki safar nasib
saya bhi us ki yaad ka sar par nahin raha

is ahd-e-sakht-gir mein ye chhut hai bahut
bahar phira hai tu kabhi andar nahin raha

aazad ho gaya hun hukumat ki qaid se
is mulk mein mera koi daftar nahin raha

main hun fida-e-sunnat-e-mansur 'aftab'
sadiq nahin raha kabhi jafar nahin raha