zist be-waada-e-anwar-e-sahar hai ki jo thi
zulmat-e-bakht ba-har-rang-o-nazar hai ki jo thi

ishq barbaad-kun-e-rahat-e-dil hai ki jo tha
shokhi-e-dost ba-andaz-e-digar hai ki jo thi

aaj bhi koi nahin puchhta ahl-e-dil ko
aaj bhi zillat-e-arbab-e-nazar hai ki jo thi

khud-parasti ka riwaj aaj bhi hai aam ki tha
rasti aaj bhi mohtaj-e-asar hai ki jo thi

aaj bhi jazba-e-ikhlas pareshan hai ki tha
aaj bhi dida-wari khak-basar hai ki jo thi

aaj bhi ilm-o-hunar ki nahin koi waqat
ab bhi na-qadri-e-ashab-e-hunar hai ki jo thi

aaj bhi mehr-o-wafa ki nahin qimat koi
aaj bhi manzilat-e-kisa-e-zar hai ki jo thi

kaamrani pe hai nazan hawas-e-hech madar
aashiqi aaj bhi ba-dida-e-tar hai ki jo thi

ruh-e-ikhlas to dar-band hai be-pursish-e-haal
midhat-e-husn sar-e-rahguzar hai ki jo thi

saf-goi ko samajhte hain yahan aib ab bhi
zehniyat aaj bhi aaluda-e-shar hai ki jo thi

asp-e-tazi ko mayassar nahin chaara 'shoala'
aur tan-zebi-o-araish-e-khar hai ki jo thi