ye shahr-e-sitam mar deta hai mujh ko
sar-e-rah sham-o-sahar ke kinare

nazar-o-pareshan main shorida-sar
azhdaham-e-kasalat mein gum

apne chaaron taraf ek nazar dalta hun
to ye sochta hun

ki ye gadiyan hain
ya gadi-numa wahshaten rengti hain

mujhe wahshaten das rahi hain
thakan se badan mein daraden padin hain

koi manzil-e-be-nishan tak nahin hai
qadam mere bojhal

mere dast-o-pa shal
nazar aise pathra gai hai ki jaise

zamin ruk gai ho
samajh aise ghabra gai hai ki jaise

khirad bakhta ho
magar mere panje zamam-e-sitam-hae-jaan musalsal gade hain

mayassar nahin hai jinhen istirahat ka pal
faqat ek hi pal

mere dast-o-pa shal
ziyafat hai sadkon ki mere

ye ghutan ki faza aur ye kala dhuan
siskiyon ki paleton mein waqt abas hai

ziyan ham-nafas hai
qafas hai sadak hai sadak hai qafas hai

qafas mein qataron ki lambi fasilen
fasilon ke khauf-e-junun-khez mein ab

masafat tawalat pakadne lagi yun
sadak ban gai ek daldal

mere dast-o-pa shal
khamoshi mere dil ke kone mein sahmi dari

shor ke tera ifrit se bhag kar
aa gai thi magar

gosh-e-muflis mein behudgi zahr ban kar
badan ki mulaem ragon ko sukhane lagi hai

bahut jald dil tak pahunch jae ki
khamushi ko dabochegi kha jaegi

ai mata-e-hunar
mere dil se nikal

ya meri aag mein jal
mere dast-o-pa shal

ba-zahir jo sidhe nazar aa rahe hain
ye sab raste daeron ki tarah hain

wajud-e-malamat mein phaile hue
be-karan faslon ke nishan hain

jahan khilqat-e-be-aman ke liye
roz-o-shab marg-e-paiham saza-war hone lage hain