zindagi tu ne ajab baat ye batlai hai

zindagi tu ne 'ajab baat ye batlai hai
ek qayamat hai bapa shahr mein ruswai hai
khalwat-e-jaan mein guzri hai meri 'umr-e-rawan
aap kahte hain ki be-nam saza pai hai


aap ko haal bataun to bataun kaise
aap ke shahr mein har shakhs tamashai hai
ek din kaif ke 'alam mein pukara us ne
ye wahi dasht hai jis dasht mein tanhai hai


na tamanna na tamasha na koi aah bhari
phir bhi aankhon mein mere dard ki gahrai hai
gham hazaron the ki ek aur mohabbat kar li
ek ruswa ko mili muft mein ruswai hai


meri duniya mein khamoshi ke 'alawa nahin kuchh
aakhiri waqt mein ye baat samajh aai hai
us ne jakda hai mujhe kanton ke bistar se 'umud'
phir tabassum-bhare honton se qasam khai hai