un ki fitrat us ko kahiye ya ki fitrat ka usul
dub jate hain sitare aur bikhar jate hain phul

ek nazar ki kya haqiqat hai magar ai dosto
umr bhar ki maut ban jati hai ek lamhe ki bhul

hum to hain un mahfilon ke aaj tak mare hue
jin mein naghmon ki hai shorish jin mein zulfon ki hai dhul

aur jo kuchh bhi hai un ke darmiyan wo hai garan
zindagi arzan hai aur hai maut bhi sahlul-husul

aaj tak dahki hui sine mein hai aariz ki aag
dil mein ab tak chubh rahe hain un ki palkon ke babul

de rahe hain is tarah wo 'kakawi'-sahab ki dad
puchhte hain aap ke ashaar ki shan-e-nuzul