karna hai zindagi jo qafas mein basar mujhe
phir kyun na hon wabaal mere baal-o-par mujhe

allah re shauq-e-did jidhar dekhta hun main
juz husn dost kuchh nahin aata nazar mujhe

hota hai koi dam mein charagh-e-hayat gul
sham-e-firaq kya ho ummid-e-sahar mujhe

rah-e-talab mein duri-e-manzil ka gham nahin
malum ho chuka hai maal-e-safar mujhe

taqdir ke likhe ko mita dun jabin se main
qismat se mil to jae tera sang-e-dar mujhe

baitha hua qafas mein yahi sochta hun main
lai chaman se kaun kashish khinch kar mujhe

afsana zindagi ka na puchho ki ishq mein
takni padi hai rah-e-ajal umr-bhar mujhe

barbaadiyon ka apni koi gham nahin magar
paegi phir kahan ye tumhaari nazar mujhe

'shoala' khayal-e-dost se ghafil nahin hun main
manzur hai jo chaara-e-dard-e-jigar mujhe