ibtida-e-ishq hai lutf-e-shabab aane ko hai
sabr rukhsat ho raha hai iztirab aane ko hai

qabr par kis shan se wo be-naqab aane ko hai
aaftab-e-subh-e-mahshar ham-rikab aane ko hai

mujh tak us mahfil mein phir jam-e-sharab aane ko hai
umr-e-rafta palti aati hai shabab aane ko hai

hae kaisi kashmakash hai yas bhi hai aas bhi
dam nikal jaane ko hai khat ka jawab aane ko hai

khat ke purze nama-bar ki lash ke hamrah hain
kis dhitai se mere khat ka jawab aane ko hai

na-umidi maut se kahti hai apna kaam kar
aas kahti hai thahar khat ka jawab aane ko hai

ruh ghabrai hui phirti hai meri lash par
kya janaze par mere khat ka jawab aane ko hai

bhar ke saqi jam-e-mai ek aur la aur jald la
un nashili ankhdiyon mein phir hijab aane ko hai

khana-e-taswir mein aane ko hai taswir-e-yar
aaine mein qadd-e-amdam aaftab aane ko hai

phir hinai hone wale hain mere qatil ke hath
phir zaban-e-tegh par rang-e-shahab aane ko hai

gudgudata hai tasawwur chutkiyan leta hai dard
kya kisi be-khwab ki aankhon mein khwab aane ko hai

dekhiye maut aae 'fani' ya koi fitna uthe
mere qabu mein dil-e-be-sabr-o-tab aane ko hai