kisi bhi baat ka jab etibar mushkil hai

kisi bhi baat ka jab e'tibar mushkil hai
phir aise mein yahan rahna to yar mushkil hai
kuchh aur wus'aten darkar hain mohabbat ko
visal-o-hijr pe dar-o-madar mushkil hai


ki muskurana bhi padta hai fatehana hamein
tere shikasta-dilon ki hazar mushkil hai
sar-e-riyasat-e-ulfat nizam hai aisa
koi mile yahan be-rozgar mushkil hai


udhaar khwab khariden aur aankhen bechen naqd
ye karobar hai aur karobar mushkil hai
tu kin fazaon mein hai ai raqib-e-‘aish-pasand
teri khizan se hamari bahaar mushkil hai


na us ko chumen to rasta bhatakti hain sansen
aur us ko chumna bhi bar bar mushkil hai
ab us ko milne lage ‘ashiqan-e-juz-waqti
lihaza apna shumar-o-qatar mushkil hai