bhatak na jae khudaya nazar kitabon mein
guzarte hain mere sham-o-sahar kitabon mein

jahan bhar mein hain jazib hazar-ha chizen
magar nazar ne banaya hai ghar kitabon mein

hazar haif hamin bahara-yab ho na sake
kahan kahan ka tha ilm-o-hunar kitabon mein

wo ilm-e-zat ki jis ki hamein khabar na hui
wo ilm-e-zat bhi tha jalwa-gar kitabon mein

hamare qaul-o-amal par hua na koi asar
ulajh ke rah gai apni nazar kitabon mein

jahan bhi sang-e-hawadis ki ho gai barish
chhupa liya hai wahin apna sar kitabon mein

mutala ki numaish hi jin ka maqsad tha
mila na kuchh bhi unhen umr bhar kitabon mein

talash jin ki har ek ilm-dan ko rahti hai
wo durr-e-ilm bhi hain mo'atabar kitabon mein

yahin huin meri hasti ki ibtida-e-safar
ho khub-tar jo ho khatm-e-safar kitabon mein

zamane bhar ki khabar mil gai kitabon se
mili na apni zara bhi khabar kitabon mein

hui hai jis se meri fikr-e-gauharin 'maghmum
mujhe mili hai wo tab-e-guhar kitabon mein