raushni kam hai na kar us ki shikayat hamdam
raushni kam hi rahe to achchha

shadmani-o-khushi ke hamrah
ek na ek gham bhi rahe to achchha

dasht-o-sahra ho ki bagh-e-dabistan
sath-e-dariya ho ki chatyal maidan

raat har chiz pe hai saya-nishan
raushni kam hai andhera hi ziyaada hai yahan

shah-rahon ke nazaron pe na ja
qumqumon ki nazar-afroz qataron pe na ja

kyunki ek chashm-e-basirat ke liye
jo bhi hai pesh-e-nazar

chashmak-e-barq hai ya raqs-e-sharar
aa zara mod idhar ko bhi nigahen apni

tira-o-tar hai kitni ye gali
timtimati hai jahan khambe par

ek maili si shikasta chimni
jis tarah naza mein koi bimar

kab talak raushni phailaegi ye
subh se pahle hi bujh jaegi ye

aur phir ek ghata-top andhera hoga
is andhere hi mein bas us ka sawera hoga

aa ki hum ab dil-e-insan bhi tatolen chal kar
band hain ye jo dariche unhen kholen chal kar

ek ya do ke siwa sab hain siyahi se bhare
jaise patte shajar-e-khushk mein do-chaar hare

tira-o-tar hai kis darja zamir-e-insan
raushni is mein kahan

raushni kam hai andhera hi ziyaada hai yahan