yun sari umr zist ke darman mein rah gae
daman sila to chaak gareban mein rah gae

tahrir kar sake na safar-nama-e-hayat
har mod par tayyun-e-unwan mein rah gae

manzil ko kuchh na rah ki saughat de sake
jo aable the khar-e-mughilan mein rah gae

kante chubhan malal thakan aur be-kasi
kya kya the ham-safar jo bayaban mein rah gae

kab mausam-e-bahaar gaya kuchh pata nahin
aisa ulajh ke jaib-o-gareban mein rah gae

ilzam ye baja hai tera ai khayal-e-dost
hum dil-nawazi-e-gham-e-dauran mein rah gae

shana-kashon ne dil ko bhi shana bana diya
kham phir bhi kitne gesu-e-dauran mein rah gae

ek ek kar ke dagh-e-jigar de rahe the lau
yun sari raat jashn-e-charaghan mein rah gae

rindon ne apne khun se maqtal saja diye
waiz surur-e-baada-e-irfan mein rah gae

hum ko to zindagi tah-e-khanjar hi mil gai
sab justuju-e-chashma-e-haiwan mein rah gae

'natiq' kahan hai safha-e-qirtas ko khabar
kitne khayal zehn ke zindan mein rah gae