hiras hai ye azal ka ki zindagi kya hai
khuda nahin hai to logo umid bhi kya hai

kisi ka ras koi parwaz-e-rang ki manzil
azar-e-lala-e-sahra ki tazgi kya hai

jo hai wo kuchh bhi nahin jo nahin wo sab kuchh hai
mere khuda ye tamanna ki sahiri kya hai

tamam husn-e-jahan na-tamam hai ki nahin
ye apsara ka tasawwur ye jal-pari kya hai

sab apni samt ishaara karen agar puchho
ki haq kidhar hai zamane mein rasti kya hai

dilon ne umr bhar aawaz di hai sinon se
kisi ne jhuton bhi puchha nahin kabhi kya hai

ye gher gher ke kyun haal-e-dil sunate ho
yahan kisi ko kisi ki miyan padi kya hai

batao kaun se danish-kade mein padhne jaen
kahan nisab mein ye hai ki aadmi kya hai

kabhi kabhi ki tursh-rui-e-jamal ki aan
ye angbin mein bhi thodi si chashni kya hai

diya to khud meri ham-khwab ne bujhaya tha
to phir ye sej pe taron ki chhanw si kya hai

tere uchatte ishaare pe war dun jaanan
hazar zindagiyan ek zindagi kya hai