basti se thodi dur chattanon ke darmiyan
thahra hua hai khana-ba-doshon ka karwan

un ki kahin zamin na un ka kahin makan
phirte hain yunhi sham o sahar zer-e-asman

dhup aur abr-o-bar ke mare hue gharib
ye log wo hain jin ko ghulami nahin nasib

is karwan mein tifl bhi hain naujawan bhi hain
budhe bhi hain mariz bhi hain na-tawan bhi hain

maile phate libas mein kuchh dewiyan bhi hain
sab zindagi se tang bhi hain sargiran bhi hain

be-zar zindagi se hain pir o jawan sabhi
altaf-e-shahryar ke hain nauha-khwan sabhi

mathe pe sakht-koshi-e-paiham ki dastan
aankhon mein huzn o yas ki ghanghor badliyan

chehron pe tazyana-e-iflas ke nishan
har har ada se bhuk ki betabiyan ayan

paisa agar mile to hamiyat bhi bech den
roti ka aasra ho to izzat bhi bech den

utthe hain jis ki god se aazar wo qaum hai
tode hain jis ne charkh se akhtar wo qaum hai

palte hain jis ne dahr ke daftar wo qaum hai
paida kiye hain jis ne payambar wo qaum hai

ab kyun sharik-e-halqa-e-nau-e-bashar nahin
insan hi to hain ye koi jaanwar nahin

aakhir zamana un ko sataega kab talak
kab se jala raha hai jalaega kab talak

kab se mita raha hai mitaega kab talak
un ke lahu ko josh na aaega kab talak

mayusiyon ki tah mein junun-kheziyan bhi hain
aflas ki sarisht mein khun-reziyan bhi hain