khirad ki fitna-samani jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai
mere dil ki pareshani jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai

uda din dhajjiyan qanun-e-taziraat ki hum ne
jaraem ki farawani jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai

gharibon ke gharon mein ek bhi raunaq nahin baqi
bahaar-e-qasr-e-sultani jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai

nazar aati hain har jaanib nai aabaadiyan lekin
dilon ki khana-virani jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai

agarche ahl-e-zar tamir ke wade to karte hain
magar takhrib-samani jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai

tabassum hai labon par ya tabassum ka janaza hai
dilon ki marsiya-khwani jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai

gharibon ke lahu se qumqume raushan hain mahlon ke
hawas ki zulm-samani jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai

kahin suba-parasti hai kahin firqa-parasti hai
wahi tafriq-e-insani jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai

ghulami aaj bhi hai aur aaqai ki surat mein
ada-e-jabr-e-sultani jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai

hai 'rumi' khush-nawa be-shak ho koi bhi yahan unwan
ada shan-e-ghazal-khwani jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai