hangama-e-hasti se guzar kyun nahin jate
raste mein khade ho gae ghar kyun nahin jate

mai-khane mein shikwa hai bahut tira-shabi ka
mai-khane mein ba-dida-e-tar kyun nahin jate

ab jubba-o-dastar ki waqat nahin baqi
rindon mein ba-andaz-e-digar kyun nahin jate

jis shahr mein gumrahi aziz-e-dil-o-jaan ho
us shahr-e-malamat mein khizar kyun nahin jate

tosha nahin koi nasim-e-sahari ka
be-rahila o zad-e-safar kyun nahin jate

shayad ki shanasa ho koi be-hunari ka
kyun darte ho bazar-e-hunar kyun nahin jate

har lahza hai jo sar ke liye ek nai thokar
us zillat-e-har-roz se mar kyun nahin jate

hum jis ke liye zinda hain ba-haal-e-pareshan
ab wo bhi ye kahta hai ki mar kyun nahin jate

kyun gosha-e-khalwat se nikalte nahin 'aslam'
baithe hain jidhar log udhar kyun nahin jate