zindagi yun bhi kabhi mujh ko saza deti hai
ek taswir kitabon se gira deti hai

aap achchhe hain bure hain ki faqat bar-e-hayat
faisla khalq-e-khuda khud hi suna deti hai

kitne nadida manazir se uthati hai naqab
raat aati hai to khwabon ko jaga deti hai

ab bhi mehrab-e-tamanna mein kasak mazi ki
sham hote hi koi shama jala deti hai

ishq hai rog hi aisa ki nahin is ka ilaj
aatish-e-dil ko dawa aur badha deti hai

sina-e-sang mein poshida sada-e-farhad
ek ek zarb pe shirin ka pata deti hai

jis ki aaghosh mein hum roz mila karte the
ab wahi sham har ek sham sada deti hai

main kahan aur kahan sher-o-sukhan hai 'zakir'
koi taqat hai jo lafzon ko jila deti hai