khud-shanasi hi khud-parasti hai
ek muamma bashar ki hasti hai

jaan dete hain log baatil par
kaisa andaz-e-haq-parasti hai

aaj mar-mar ke ji rahe hain log
kitna dilchasp khwab-e-hasti hai

muflisi badh gai hai is darja
maut ko zindagi tarasti hai

ab ye haalat hui hai ai 'iqbaal'
zindagi maut ko tarasti hai