'tariq' kya kabhi qaum ka nauha bhi likhoge
ya bas dar-e-daulat ka qasida hi likhoge

angusht-numai sada aghyar pe hogi
ya jurm kabhi koi tum apna bhi likhoge

jo dil pe guzarte hain wo sadmat likho ab
chhodo ye qasida koi haq baat likho ab

kyun apni wafaon ke bharam tut rahe hain
kyun hum pe hi ye zulm-o-sitam tut rahe hain

jis qaum ki miras the ye ilm-o-shujaat
kyun us pe hi shamshir-o-qalam tut rahe hain

har zalim-o-zulmat ko hain matlub hami kyun
socha hai kabhi hote hain matub hami kyun

kuchh apni tabahi ke bhi asbab likho ab
jis bab pe sharminda ho wo bab likho ab

makhdush hain kyun mimbar-o-mehrab likho ab
sone jo nahin dete hain wo khwab likho ab

socha hai kabhi aaj ye haalat hai to kyun hai
har-gam pe tahqir hai zillat hai to kyun hai

kal waqt ke sine pe kaf-e-pa the hamare
ye dasht-o-jabal aur ye dariya the hamare

ye sat samundar the ye sahra the hamare
qadmon tale mirrikh-o-surayya the hamare

tarikh faqat mahw-e-qasida thi hamari
girwida-e-akhlaq-e-hamida thi hamari

hum hi to kabhi maut se the khelne wale
the maqtal-o-zindan ke charaghon ke ujale

aur aaj ye jine ke hain andaz nirale
jada hai na manzil hai na ab paon mein chhaale

hum apne zamiron ki tijarat mein pade hain
kasa liye bazar-e-siyasat mein khade hain

izzat ke sadaqat ke shahadat ke qaside
aslaf ke kirdar ki azmat ke qaside

bhule hue baithe hain shujaat ke qaside
hum padhne lage ahl-e-raunat ke qaside

ab apna zamir apna yaqin bech rahe hain
hum luqma-e-tar ke liye din bech rahe hain

maqsud jo khush-nudi-e-qatil hai hamari
hum khush hain ki kashti sar-e-sahil hai hamari

uqba ki tamanna kahan hasil hai hamari
kursi ki talab aakhiri manzil hai hamari

kis shan se jite the yahan khar hue kyun
socha hai kabhi hashiya-bardar hue kyun