hum apni haqiqat kis se kahen hain pyase ki sairab hain hum
hum sahra hain aur jal-thal hain hain dariya aur payab hain hum

ab gham koi na sarshaari bas chalne ki hai tayyari
ab dhup hai phaili aangan mein aur kachchi nind ke khwab hain hum

han sham-e-tamanna bujh bhi gai ab dil tera tarik bahut
ab hiddat-e-gham na josh-e-junun ai dasht-e-talab barfab hain hum

ye tanhai ye khamoshi tara bhi nahin is sham koi
kuchh dagh samete sine mein tanha tanha mahtab hain hum

hum jis mein dub ke ubhre hain wo dariya kaisa dariya tha
ye kaisa ufuq hai jis ki athah gahrai mein gharqab hain hum

hum misl-e-sharar hain jugnu hain hum tira-shab ke aansu hain
hum najm-e-sahar hum rashk-e-qamar han har surat shab-tab hain hum

ek huzn-o-malal ka sail-e-bala sab khwab baha kar le bhi gaya
phir phul khile man-angan mein phir dekh hamein shadab hain hum

lakhon hum jaise milte hain nayab nahin hain hum 'ahmad'
han un ke liye jo dil se mile wo jaante hain kamyab hain hum