manzar-e-waqt ki yaksani mein baitha hua hun
raat din ek si virani mein baitha hua hun

koi saman-e-safar hai na masafat dar-pesh
mutmain be-sar-o-samani mein baitha hua hun

kabhi nayaft ka hai to kabhi kam-yaft ka gham
wajh-be-wajh pareshani mein baitha hua hun

kar-e-dushwar hai aaghaz se munkir jab tak
kar-e-be-kar ki aasani mein baitha hua hun

kal kahin rafta mein tha haal ki hairat ka asir
ab kisi farda ki hairani mein baitha hua hun

khair ham-zad mera dur tamashai hai
shar hun aur fitrat-e-insani mein baitha hua hun

jism hun aur nafas thahra hai zamin mera
saat-e-umr ki nigrani mein baitha hua hun

ek bazar-e-tilismat hai jis ke andar
jeb-e-khali teri arzani mein baitha hua hun

reg-ta-reg hun phaila hua sahra ki tarah
aur sarabon ki farawani mein baitha hua hun

aisa sannata hai aawaz se haul aata hai
ek bayaban sa bayabani mein baitha hua hun

na main bilqis ki ho shahr-e-saba ki khwahish
na gham-e-takht-e-sulaimani mein baitha hua hun