'mir'-o-'ghaalib' bane 'yagana' bane
aadmi ai khuda khuda na bane

maut ki dastaras mein kab se hain
zindagi ka koi bahana bane

apna shayad yahi tha jurm ai dost
ba-wafa ban ke be-wafa na bane

hum pe ek e'tiraaz ye bhi hai
be-nawa ho ke be-nawa na bane

ye bhi apna qusur kya kam hai
kisi qatil ke ham-nawa na bane

kya gila sang-dil zamane ka
aashna hi jab aashna na bane

chhod kar us gali ko ai 'jalib'
ek haqiqat se hum fasana bane