rang-e-tahzib-o-tamaddun ke shanasa hum bhi hain
surat-e-aina marhun-e-tamasha hum bhi hain

haal o mustaqbil ka kya hum ko sabaq dete hain aap
is qadar to waqif-e-imroz-o-farda hum bhi hain

ba-dil-e-na-khwasta hanste hain duniya ke liye
warna sach ye hai pasheman-e-tamanna hum bhi hain

kuchh safine hain ki tufan se hai jin ka saz-baz
dekhne walon mein ek bairun-e-dariya hum bhi hain

dekhna hai dekh lo uthti hui mahfil ka rang
subah ke bujhte charaghon ka sambhaala hum bhi hain

kaghzi malbus mein ubhri hai har shakl-e-hayat
ret ki chadar pe ek naqsh-e-kaf-e-pa hum bhi hain

ja-ba-ja bikhre nazar aate hain aasar-e-qadim
pi gain jis ko guzargahen wo dariya hum bhi hain

us haram ki zeb-o-zinat ko khuda rakkhe magar
mujriman-e-ahd-o-paiman-e-kalisa hum bhi hain

hum se gunja hai adam-abaad ka dasht-e-sukut
aalam-e-arwah ka pahla dhamaka hum bhi hain

hum jab uth jaenge ye uqda bhi hal ho jaega
raunaq-e-mahfil charaghon ke alawa hum bhi hain

khak kyun hota nahin jal kar hisar-e-ab-o-gil
ye agar sach hai tere jalwon ka parda hum bhi hain

hum pe jaane kaun sa tufan thopa jaega
jaane kis tazir ki khatir gawara hum bhi hain

ye sar-e-fihrist aur ehsan-'danish' shadbash
mujrmon mein aap ke nazdik goya hum bhi hain