jab jahan mein pet sab ka hi hai bharti roti
munh chidati roz-o-shab phir kyon mera hi roti

roz chulhe mein jalata hai jo khud-dari ko
bhuk phir us ki mitae kaise us ki roti

umr itni thi ki roti man ke hathon khata
mujh ko to us umr mein khane lagi thi roti

nachti hai bhuk jab bhi chaar din aangan mein
tab lahu ki mere qimat sirf lagti roti

jis ne auron ke khazane zindagi bhar the bhare
marte marte wo bhi chillaya tha roti roti

khun us ka khet mein bahta hai jaise pani
banti hai jis ke pasine se sabhi ki roti

log to karte hain iman ka bhi sauda aksar
danw pe lagti hai jab un ki ye pyari roti

daur-e-ghurbat mein bhi karta hai 'shafaq' ye dawa
mar bhi jae to na khae shairi ki roti