log kahte hain ki gulshan mein bahaar aai thi
baghban ne gul-e-khandan ki qasam khai thi

ek nae daur ke aaghaz ka dilkash naghma
gungunai thi zaban waqt ki mubham dhun mein

log kahte hain ki ek subh-e-tarab aai thi
apni aaghosh mein farda ka fusun lai thi

log kahte the ki ab mai-kada-e-hasti mein
koi shaki na rahega kisi mastane se

tishna-kaami ki shikayat na karega koi
yun badal jaega maikhane ka dastur-e-kuhan

ab tahi jam-o-subu ki na hikayat hogi
naghma-zan qismat-e-arbab-e-mohabbat hogi

log kahte hain ki tazin-e-chaman ho bhi chuki
rasm-e-araish-e-rukhsar-o-dahan ho bhi chuki

shana dar gesu-e-laila-e-watan ho bhi chuka
dast-e-imroz se mazi ka kafan sil bhi chuka

qafile manzil-e-maqsud ko ja pahunche hain
marhale qurb-e-lab-e-yar ke aa pahunche hain

zindagi phir bhi pareshan si nazar aati hai
azmat-e-husn pasheman si nazar aati hai

dekh kar khalwat-e-hasti ki khamoshi yaro
maut angusht-ba-dandan si nazar aati hai

shiddat-e-dard ka ehsas siwa hai ab bhi
sham-e-gham aur farozan si nazar aati hai

ghaza-e-gul liye rukhsar-e-khizan aaj bhi hai
andalibon ka wahi tarz-e-fughan aaj bhi hai

shama-e-be-nur yaqin ta-ba-sahar jalti hai
zist sharminda-e-sahab-nazaran aaj bhi hai

zehn-e-mashriq pe wahi khwab-e-giran aaj bhi hai
chashm-e-maghrib ba-hiqarat nigaran aaj bhi hai

aaj to wo bhi pasheman se nazar aate hain
jin ke kanon ne nae daur ke naghmat sune

jin ki aankhon ne nai subh ke jalwe dekhe
jin ke honton pe guhar-bar tabassum machle

ye fareb-e-rah-e-mubham ki shikasta diwar
kab talak qasr-e-taqaddus ko sahaara degi

ye tilism-e-shab-e-bimar rahega kab tak
khun-fishan dida-e-bedar rahega kab tak