yahan jo bhi tha tanha tha yahan jo bhi hai tanha hai
ye duniya hai ye duniya hai isi ka nam duniya hai

na bola un se jata hai na dekha un se jata hai
yahan gungon ki basti hai yahan andhon ka pahra hai

wo manzil thi tahayyur ki ye manzil hai tafakkur ki
wahan parda bhi jalwa tha yahan jalwa bhi parda hai

wo aalam tha tayyun ka wahan parda hi parda tha
ye aalam hai tayaqqun ka yahan jalwa hi jalwa hai

sabhi majruh hain is said-gah-e-aish-o-hirman mein
kisi ka zakhm ochha hai kisi ka zakhm gahra hai

jo wo ek khush-khayali thi to ye ek kam-nigahi hai
na wo phulon ka gulshan tha na ye kanton ka sahra hai

wo ahl-e-qal ki majlis ye ahl-e-haal ki majlis
wahan jo kuchh tha mazi tha yahan jo kuchh hai farda hai

ye naddi to nahin jo aab-e-shirin de sake tum ko
hai pani utna hi namkin samundar jitna gahra hai

yahan tarshe hue lafzon ka sikka chal nahin sakta
ye bazar-e-maani hai yahan moti bhi qatra hai

'jamil' aankhon ke pat kholo ise bhi ek nazar tolo
wo nairang-e-tasawwur tha ye nairang-e-tamasha hai