ek muflis gharib aur lachaar
jis ka hamdam koi na hai gham-khwar

jaan-e-jamhur us ko kahte hain
yani mazdur us ko kahte hain

kaun samjhega us ki majburi
chaar rupya hui hai mazduri

ek jawan-sal us ki beti hai
wo bhi bimar ghar mein leti hai

ghar raqam itni le ke kya jae
itne mein kya khilae kya khae

subh se sham hone aai hai
ek udasi si ghar mein chhai hai

kaise wo ba-shuur rahta ho
har khushi se jo dur rahta ho

murda-dil ke lahu mein josh nahin
faqa-masti mein kuchh bhi hosh nahin

ghar mein chawal hai aur na aata hai
raat din jaane kaise kata hai

kaun duniya mein sunne wala hai
zar-paraston ka bol-baala hai

beti ke zist ka bujha jo diya
maut ne apni aafiyat mein liya

aisa majbur kis tarah se jiye
khae gham aur khun-e-dil jo piye

hasraton ka janaza khub gaya
ye bhi dariya mein ja ke dub gaya