gham-e-hayat kahen dard-e-kaenat kahen
tumhaare nam se sare jahan ki baat kahen

bada ghazab hai jo hum raat ko bhi raat kahen
utho ki aaj to dar-o-rasan ki baat kahen

kisi ke dawa-e-tamkin pe harf aata hai
sanbhal ke aap zara mere waqiat kahen

udhar zaban hai ki betab-e-guftugu hai bahut
idhar ye qaid nigahon se dil ki baat kahen

kisi ki yaad ki ab dil bhi rahguzar nahin
bhare jahan mein kise apni kaenat kahen

tumhaari bazm mein dhalte rahe hain afsane
khata muaf agar hum bhi ek baat kahen

hamin se tark-e-mohabbat hamin se husn-e-suluk
hum is maqam ko rasm-e-takallufat kahen

kisi ke husn-e-taghaful se ab to paida hai
wo ek baat jise jaan-e-iltifat kahen

isi ka nam to ilham-e-sher hai 'saifi'
ki apni baat mein sare jahan ki baat kahen