kahin subh-o-sham ke darmiyan kahin mah-o-sal ke darmiyan
ye mere wajud ki saltanat hai ajab zawal ke darmiyan

abhi sehn-e-jaan mein bichhi hui jo bahaar hai use kya kahun
main kisi itab ki zad mein hun tu kisi malal ke darmiyan

hain kisi ishaare ke muntazir kai shahsawar khade hue
ki ho garm phir koi marka mere zabt-e-haal ke darmiyan

nahin tarjuman-e-bayan koi jo hai parda-dar-e-sukut hai
hain ye dagh dagh ibaraten bade ehtimal ke darmiyan

yahan zarra zarra hai dida-war nahin zarra bhar koi be-khabar
kisi kam-nazar ko padi hai kya pade kyun sawal ke darmiyan

na raha dhuan na hai koi bu lo ab aa gae wo suragh-ju
hai har ek nigah gurez-khu pas-e-ishtial ke darmiyan

the jo par-kusha hain zubun zubun the jo sar-ba-kaf hue sar-nigun
kahin kho gae darun darun ye kis indr-jal ke darmiyan

lagi zarb aisi hai bar-mahal ki ye marhala bhi hai jaan-gusil
hue zakhm phir se lahu lahu the jo indimal ke darmiyan

kabhi shikwa-zan kabhi nukta-chin kabhi baghiyon ka himayati
ye 'khalish' hai kaun kaho use rahe e'tidal ke darmiyan