kyun-kar kahun aahon mein meri be-asari hai

kyun-kar kahun aahon mein meri be-asari hai
jab dekh raha hun ki in aankhon mein tari hai
paigham-e-bahaaran na do ai ahl-e-gulistan
diwanon ki qismat hi mein jab dar-ba-dari hai


wo ahl-e-khirad hain jo badalte hain bahar-gam
ab bhi wahi diwane wahi jama-dari hai
lazim hai ki maghrur na ho ‘aish-e-baqa par
ai dost zamane mein har insan saqari hai


aghyar to waqif hain mere haal se lekin
afsos mere gham se unhen be-khabari hai
uthte hi nazar hosh ki mahfil hui barham
ai dost qayamat hai ki ye ‘ishwa-gari hai


main kyon rahun mahrum gul-e-dagh-e-jigar se
jab un ki jafaon ki har ek shakh hari hai
khud hi kabhi nalan kabhi barham kabhi bad-zan
ye mashghala-e-'ishq 'ajab dard-e-sari hai


duniya ki bahaaron pe 'abas naz hai ai dil
har chiz yahan misl-e-charagh-e-sahari hai
'ishrat' kare tarikh na kyon naz hamin par
hum jaisa zamane mein kahan koi jari hai