main pahuncha apni manzil tak magar aahista aahista
kiya hai pura ek mushkil safar aahista aahista

nahin aasan harim-e-naz tak ki thi rasai bhi
hue taskhir lekin baam-o-dar aahista aahista

mata-e-azm-e-mohkam hi ka is ko moajiza kahiye
ki manzil ban gai khud rahguzar aahista aahista

bahut hi sakht garche zindagi ke marke the bhi
khula hai mujh pe har bab-e-zafar aahista aahista

raha hai rishta aisa sang-o-tesha se ki le aaya
main ju-e-shir ek shirin ke ghar aahista aahista

hunar aisa charaghon ke dhuan pine se aaya hai
ki shabnam mein badal jate sharar aahista aahista

nahin kuchh kaam aai hai kisi ki kimiya-sazi
bane qatre pasine ke guhar aahista aahista

sitaron ko banana aaftab aasan nahin hota
kiye kuchh marke aise bhi sar aahista aahista

sataish nukta-chini aur sile se be-niyazana
main bas chalta raha apni dagar aahista aahista

faqat ek sai-e-paiham zindagi ka apni unwan hai
shab-e-tarik se phuti sahar aahista aahista

falak ke chand taron se raqabat bhi nahin lekin
kiya daman ko khud rashk-e-qamar aahista aahista

gul-o-ghuncha ki rang-o-bu mein pa leta hun sab un mein
khile hain is tarah dagh-e-jigar aahista aahista

hisar-e-na-shanasan ho ki bazm-e-nukta-chinan ho
mujhe aa hi gaya karna basar aahista aahista

main dilli lucknow mein garche pahle hi se tha lekin
hua hun ghar mein 'tarzi' mo'atabar aahista aahista