kanton mein phul kaise khila hum se puchhiye
kya hai maqam-e-sabr-o-raza hum se puchhiye

nigaran hai jo furaat ke wo kya bataenge
han tishnagi-e-karb-o-bala hum se puchhiye

ye rahbar hain jitne riwayat-pasand hain
be-nam manzilon ka pata hum se puchhiye

har ek inqilab ki zad par hamin rahe
har imtihan hamin ne diya hum se puchhiye

mazi ki baat aur thi 'mumtaz' aaj bhi
khud-sakhta hain kitne khuda hum se puchhiye