shahr-badari ke din guzar jate
kitna achchha tha log ghar jate

aan de kar ke jaan lae ho
kya ye lazim nahin tha mar jate

hukm nafiz tha apne ghar mein raho
be-ghari hum bata kidhar jate

mohtasib ne badi hi jaldi ki
ain mumkin tha hum sudhar jate

umr jaisi guzar di hum ne
tum ko milti to kab ke mar jate

hae-re iltifat-e-chaaragar
zakhm gahre nahin the bhar jate

log kuchh dekh kar thitakte the
aur kuchh soch kar guzar jate

kha gae rog aagahi wale
warna khush-bash din guzar jate

dil talak aan kar ruke sab khel
kya maza tha jo is mein sar jate

bair le kar bhi sari duniya ke
ek tujhe ham-khayal kar jate

na shuuri mein khush thi duniya 'shams'
hum bhi ai kash be-khabar jate