kai payam bara-e-sukun-e-jaan to mile
magar tamam hui apni dastan to mile

koi to samjhe mere karb ka lab-o-lahja
ye aarzu hai mujhe koi ham-zaban to mile

koi faza koi mausam ho hum se ho mansub
bahaar agar nahin milti hamein khizan to mile

maqam-e-shukr hai mere liye ki aakhir-kar
mere harifon mein kuchh ahl-e-khandan to mile

hun gham-nasib to kya gham ki rah-e-hasti mein
talash-e-haq-o-sadaqat mein ham-rahan to mile

yahi bahut hai khizan ko khizan jo kahte hain
kuchh aise phul hamein zeb-e-gulsitan to mile

shikasta-pa hain to kya hum to sar ke bal jaen
magar ye baat koi mir-e-karwan to mile

hikayat-e-dil-e-dard-ashna sunaunga
teri nazar se mujhe jurat-e-bayan to mile

ye zindagi ke bayaban mein dhup ka sahra
kahan qayam karun koi saeban to mile

ye roz-o-shab bhi hamare badal to sakte hain
kabhi zamin se aa kar ye aasman to mile

riha hue hain magar 'lais' ye rihai kya
qafas se chhutne walon ko aashiyan to mile