gham-e-dauran gham-e-jaanan gham-e-jaan hai ki nahin
dil-sitan silsila-e-gham-zadagan hai ki nahin

har nafas bazm-e-gulistan mein ghazal-khwan tha kabhi
har nafas nala-kashan nauha-kunan hai ki nahin

har nazar naghma-sara anjuman-ara thi kabhi
har nazar hairati-e-rang-e-jahan hai ki nahin

har zaban par tha kabhi tazkira-e-daur-e-bahaar
har zaban shikwa-gar-e-jaur-e-khizan hai ki nahin

mai-chakan baada-nishan the lab-e-gul-rang kabhi
lab-e-gul-rang pe zakhmon ka guman hai ki nahin

surma-e-chashm-e-inayat ki hikayat chhodo
aaj har aankh mein aahon ka dhuan hai ki nahin

qafile jaane ghataon ke kahan utrenge
har kham-e-zulf ba-hasrat-nigaran hai ki nahin

dasht-e-wahshat se nahin kam ye jahan-e-gul-o-bu
surat-e-reg-e-rawan umr-e-rawan hai ki nahin

naghma-e-baad-e-bahaari jise tum kahte ho
jaras-e-qafila-e-gul ki fughan hai ki nahin

na to bulbul ki nawa hai na sada-e-taus
sehn-e-gulzar mein ab amn-o-aman hai ki nahin

mujh se kya puchhte ho kaun yahan tak pahuncha
surkhi-e-khar-e-bayaban se ayan hai ki nahin

zindagi kuchh bhi sahi phir bhi badi daulat hai
maut si shai bhi yahan jins-e-giran hai ki nahin

surat-e-lutf-o-karam ye ho to dil kyun na jale
aag patthar ke bhi sine mein nihan hai ki nahin

zulm chup-chap sahe jaoge aakhir kab tak
ai asiran-e-qafas munh mein zaban hai ki nahin

ye adab-gah-e-mohabbat hai jo chup hun 'tahir'
warna yan kaun sa andaz-e-bayan hai ki nahin