saKHt dushwar zindagi hai mujhe

saḳht dushvār zindagī hai mujhe

aur jiinā bhī lāzmī hai mujhe

us kā maiñ naam le nahīñ saktā

dekhiye kitnī bebasī hai mujhe

mujh ko aksar gumān hotā hai

ki abhī tak vo sochtī hai mujhe

ek lamhe kī us kī kaj-nazarī

aaj tak ḳhuuñ rulā rahī hai mujhe

us maqām-e-vafā pe huuñ ki jahāñ

'ishq karnā hī bandagī hai mujhe

shā'irī mere ghar kī bāñdī hai

is se ik rabt-e-bātinī hai mujhe

ḳhāk-e-āvārgī-e-dasht-e-junūñ

shahr-dar-shahr DhūñDhtī hai mujhe

ek tum hī nahīñ ho paas mire

varna kis chiiz kī kamī hai mujhe

ḳhatm qissa huā abū-'shabbar'

vo nazar se girā chukī hai mujhe

saKHt dushwar zindagi hai mujhe

aur jina bhi lazmi hai mujhe

us ka main nam le nahin sakta

dekhiye kitni bebasi hai mujhe

mujh ko aksar guman hota hai

ki abhi tak wo sochti hai mujhe

ek lamhe ki us ki kaj-nazari

aaj tak KHun rula rahi hai mujhe

us maqam-e-wafa pe hun ki jahan

'ishq karna hi bandagi hai mujhe

sha'iri mere ghar ki bandi hai

is se ek rabt-e-baatini hai mujhe

KHak-e-awargi-e-dasht-e-junun

shahr-dar-shahr DhunDhti hai mujhe

ek tum hi nahin ho pas mere

warna kis chiz ki kami hai mujhe

KHatm qissa hua abu-'shabbar'

wo nazar se gira chuki hai mujhe