zindagi mail-e-fariyaad-o-fughan aaj bhi hai
kal bhi tha sine pe ek sang-e-giran aaj bhi hai

dil-e-afsurda ko pahlu mein liye baithe hain
bazm mein majma-e-khasta-jigaran aaj bhi hai

talkhi-e-koh-kani kal bhi mera hissa tha
jam-e-shirin ba-nasib-e-digaran aaj bhi hai

zakhm-e-dil ke nahin aasar ba-zahir lekin
chaara-gar se gila-e-dard-e-nihan aaj bhi hai

aaj bhi garm hai bazar jafa-karon ka
kal bhi aarasta thi un ki dukan aaj bhi hai

gosha-e-amn nahin aaj bhi bulbul ko nasib
chashm-e-sayyaad bahar-su nigaran aaj bhi hai

aaj bhi zakhm-e-rag-e-gul se tapakta hai lahu
khun mein dubi hui kanton ki zaban aaj bhi hai

zindagi chaunk ke bedar hui hai lekin
chashm-o-dil par asar-e-khwab-e-giran aaj bhi hai

is taraf jins-e-wafa ki wahi arzani hai
us taraf ek nigah-e-lutf-e-giran aaj bhi hai

haif kyun qismat-e-shaer pe na aae 'ajiz'
kal bhi kam-bakht raha marsiyan-khwan aaj bhi hai