wo ajib subh-e-bahaar thi
ki sahar se nauhagari rahi

meri bastiyan thin dhuan-dhuan
mere ghar mein aag bhari rahi

mere raste the lahu-lahu
mera qarya qarya figar tha

ye kaf-e-hawa pe zamin thi
wo falak ki musht-e-ghubar tha

kai aabshaar se jism the
ki jo qatra-qatra pighal gae

kai khush-jamal tilism the
jinhen gard-baad nigal gae

koi khwab nok-e-sinan pe tha
koi aarzu tah-e-sang thi

koi phul aabla aabla
koi shakh marqad-e-rang thi

kai lapata meri lo'baten
jo kisi taraf ki na ho sakin

jo na aane walon ke sath thin
jo na jaane walon ko ro sakin

kai tar saz se kat gae
kisi mutriba ki rag-e-gulu

mai-e-atishin mein wo zahr tha
ki tadakh gae qadah-o-subu

koi nai-nawaz tha dam-ba-khud
ki nafas se hiddat-e-jaan gai

koi sar-ba-zanu tha 'barbad'
ki sada-e-dost kahan gai

kahin naghmagi mein wo bain the
ki samaaton ne sune nahin

kahin gunjte the wo marsiye
ki 'anis' ne bhi kahe nahin

ye jo sang-rezon ke dher hain
yahan motiyon ki dukan thi

ye jo saeban dhuen ke hain
yahan baadalon ki udan thi

jahan raushni hai khandar khandar
yahan qumqumon se jawan the

jahan chyuntiyan huin khema-zan
yahan jugnuon ke makan the

kahin aabgina khayal ka
ki jo karb-e-zabt se chur tha

kahin aaina kisi yaad ka
ki jo aks-e-yar se dur tha

mere bismilon ki qanaaten
jo badhaen zulm ke hausle

mere aahuon ka chakida khun
jo shikariyon ko suragh de

meri adl-gahon ki maslahat
mere qatilon ki wakil hai

mere khanqahon ki manzilat
meri buzdili ki dalil hai

mere ahl-e-harf-o-sukhan-sara
jo gadagaron mein badal gae

mere ham-safir the hila-ju
kisi aur samt nikal gae

kai fakhtaon ki chaal mein
mujhe kargason ka chalan laga

kai chand bhi the siyah ru
kai surajon ko gahan laga

koi tajir-e-hasb-o-nasab
koi din-farosh qadim hai

yahan kafsh-bar bhi imam hain
yahan nat-khwan bhi kalim hai

koi fikrmand kulah ka
koi dawe-dar qaba ka hai

wahi ahl-e-dil bhi hain zeb-tan
jo libas ahl-e-riya ka hai

mere pasban mere naqb-zan
mera mulk mulk-e-yatim hai

mera des mir-e-sipah ka
mera shahr mal-e-ghanim hai

jo rawish hai sahib-e-takht ki
so musahibon ka tariq hai

yahan kotwal bhi duzd-e-shab
yahan shaikh-e-din bhi fariq hai

yahan sab ke narkh juda juda
ise mol lo ise taul do

jo talab kare koi khun-baha
to dahan khazane ka khol do

wo jo sar-kashi ka ho murtakib
use qamchiyon se zubun karo

jahan khalq-e-shahr ho mushtail
use goliyon se nigun karo

magar aise aise ghani bhi the
isi qaht-zar-e-damishq mein

jinhen ku-e-yar aziz tha
jo khade the maqtal-e-ishq mein

koi bankpan mein tha kohkan
to junun mein qais sa tha koi

jo surahiyan liye jism ki
mai-e-nab khun se bhari hui

the sada-ba-lab ki piyo piyo
ye sabil ahl-e-safa ki hai

ye nashid nosh-e-badan karo
ye kashid tak-e-wafa ki hai

koi tishna-lab hi na tha yahan
jo pukarta ki idhar udhar

sabhi muft-bar the tamash-bin
koi bazm mein koi baam par

sabhi be-hisi ke khumar mein
sabhi apne haal mein mast the

sabhi rahrawan-e-rah-e-adam
magar apne zo'm mein hast the

so lahu ke jam undel kar
mere jaan-farosh chale gae

wo sukut tha sar-e-mai-kada
ki wo nam-badosh chale gae

koi mahbason mein rasan-ba-pa
koi maqtalon mein darida tan

na kisi ke hath mein shakh-e-nai
na kisi ke lab pe gul-e-sukhan

isi arsa-e-shab-e-tar mein
yunhi ek umr guzar gai

kabhi roz-e-wasl bhi dekhte
ye jo aarzu thi wo mar gai

yahan roz hashr bapa hue
pe koi bhi roz-e-jaza nahin

yahan zindagi bhi azab hai
yahan maut mein bhi shifa nahin