wo tegh-e-naz ki gul-rang hai lahu ki tarah

vo teġh-e-nāz ki gul-rang hai lahū kī tarah

'azīz hai mujhe apnī rag-e-gulū kī tarah

tahī haiñ rind sar-e-mai-kada subū kī tarah

charāġh kaun jilā.e mire lahū kī tarah

chaman nai jab kabhī dīvār ban ke rokā hai

guzar gayā hoñ maiñ ik mauj-e-rang-o-bū kī tarah

sikhā rahe haiñ vo ādāb-e-mai-kashī ham ko

jū mai-kade meñ chhalakte rahe subū kī tarah

bahār meñ bhī nahīñ koī shāḳh-e-gul mahfūz

chaman kā hasan hai muflis kī aabrū kī tarah

tire visāl kī ḳhushbū tire firāq kā rang

marī hayāt hai ik shahr-e-rang-o-bū kī tarah

sukūt par bhī vo shāyad biThā.eñge pahre

sukūt bhī to hai ik jurm-e-guftugū kī tarah

hameñ bhī dekh ki ham zindagī ke sahrā meñ

khile hue haiñ kisī zaḳhm-e-ārzū kī tarah

jo tū mile to mulāqāt apne aap se ho

tirī talāsh meñ huuñ apnī justujū kī tarah

guzar rahā huuñ ab un manziloñ se ai 'shā'ir'

hai aarzū bhī jahāñ tark-e-ārzū kī tarah

khiñchī hai jab kisī bātil kī teġh ai 'shā'ir'

chamak uThī hai sadāqat mire lahū kī tarah

wo tegh-e-naz ki gul-rang hai lahu ki tarah

'aziz hai mujhe apni rag-e-gulu ki tarah

tahi hain rind sar-e-mai-kada subu ki tarah

charagh kaun jilae mere lahu ki tarah

chaman nai jab kabhi diwar ban ke roka hai

guzar gaya hon main ek mauj-e-rang-o-bu ki tarah

sikha rahe hain wo aadab-e-mai-kashi hum ko

ju mai-kade mein chhalakte rahe subu ki tarah

bahaar mein bhi nahin koi shaKH-e-gul mahfuz

chaman ka hasan hai muflis ki aabru ki tarah

tere visal ki KHushbu tere firaq ka rang

mari hayat hai ek shahr-e-rang-o-bu ki tarah

sukut par bhi wo shayad biThaenge pahre

sukut bhi to hai ek jurm-e-guftugu ki tarah

hamein bhi dekh ki hum zindagi ke sahra mein

khile hue hain kisi zaKHm-e-arzu ki tarah

jo tu mile to mulaqat apne aap se ho

teri talash mein hun apni justuju ki tarah

guzar raha hun ab un manzilon se ai 'sha'ir'

hai aarzu bhi jahan tark-e-arzu ki tarah

khinchi hai jab kisi baatil ki tegh ai 'sha'ir'

chamak uThi hai sadaqat mere lahu ki tarah