hazar koshish-e-paiham ke bawajud hamein
tamam umr koi dost ba-wafa na mila

kahan ka wasl mulaqat hi ghanimat hai
phir us ke baad wo hum se mila mila na mila

wo jis ko hum ne zamane se badh ke chaha tha
us ek shakhs ki chahat mein kuchh maza na mila

teri judai ke sahra mein kho gae aise
suragh apna kahin aur kahin pata na mila

ye kaenat ki be-rang hoti jati hai
jo dil ka rang dikhati wo aaina na mila

talashte rahe kanton mein phul se paikar
mizaj hum ko azal se hi aashiqana mila

tamam umr hi raston ki khak chhani hai
hamein to manzil-e-hasti tera pata na mila

hamein jo rah dikhata qadam qadam pe 'nabil'
misal-e-khizr koi aisa rahnuma na mila

khud aap apne muqabil mein aa gae hain 'nabil'
hamein mizaj mila bhi to baghiyana mila