gham-e-hayat ke pesh-o-aqab nahin padhta
ye daur wo hai jo sher-o-adab nahin padhta

koi to baat hai rudad-e-khun-e-nahaq mein
kahin kahin se wo padhta hai sab nahin padhta

kisi ka chehra-e-taban ki mah-e-rakhshanda
jo padhne wala hai quran wo kab nahin padhta

wo kaun hai jo tujhe raat din nahin likhta
wo kaun hai jo tujhe roz-o-shab nahin padhta

wo ab to is qadar izhaar-e-haq se darta hai
agar likha ho kahin lab to lab nahin padhta

na jaane in dinon kya ho gaya hai saqi ko
nigah-e-rind mein husn-e-talab nahin padhta

usi ka rang hai 'afsar' usi ki khushbu hai
mera kalam koi be-sabab nahin padhta