na to ab qais banna hai na hi farhad hona hai

na to ab qais banñā hai na hī farhād honā hai

nikal kar dasht-e-hijrāñ se mujhe ābād honā hai

maiñ iklautā sahārā huuñ 'alī' maañ baap kā so ab

tirī yādoñ ke saa.e se mujhe āzād honā hai

ġham-e-ġhurbat se niklūñgā to sochūñgā tasallī se

ġham-e-jānāñ meñ mujh ko kis qadar barbād honā hai

'ajab sī kashmakash meñ huuñ patā hī ab nahīñ chaltā

kahāñ ab shaad honā hai kahāñ nāshād honā hai

maiñ 'jālib' kī ġhazal huuñ yā 'farāz'-o-'faiz' kā misra'

mujhe 'mansūr' banñā hai mujhe 'bahzād' honā hai

'azādāroñ se ye keh do musalsal jāgte rahnā

abhī tātār guzreñge abhī baġhdād honā hai

sharīfoñ ne sajā.ī hai sar-e-bāzār phir mahfil

yaqīnan aaj phir koī nayā aprādh honā hai

'alī' ab qaid-ḳhāne meñ zabāñ ko rakh nahīñ saktā

laboñ kī toḌ kar bandish mujhe fariyād honā hai

na to ab qais banna hai na hi farhad hona hai

nikal kar dasht-e-hijran se mujhe aabaad hona hai

main iklauta sahaara hun 'ali' man bap ka so ab

teri yaadon ke sae se mujhe aazad hona hai

gham-e-ghurbat se niklunga to sochunga tasalli se

gham-e-jaanan mein mujh ko kis qadar barbaad hona hai

'ajab si kashmakash mein hun pata hi ab nahin chalta

kahan ab shad hona hai kahan nashad hona hai

main 'jalib' ki ghazal hun ya 'faraaz'-o-'faiz' ka misra'

mujhe 'mansur' banna hai mujhe 'bahzad' hona hai

'azadaron se ye keh do musalsal jagte rahna

abhi tatar guzrenge abhi baghdad hona hai

sharifon ne sajai hai sar-e-bazar phir mahfil

yaqinan aaj phir koi naya apradh hona hai

'ali' ab qaid-KHane mein zaban ko rakh nahin sakta

labon ki toD kar bandish mujhe fariyaad hona hai