chup hai aaghaz mein, phir shor-e-ajal paDta hai

chup hai āġhāz meñ, phir shor-e-ajal paḌtā hai

aur kahīñ biich meñ imkān kā pal paḌtā hai

ek vahshat hai ki hotī hai achānak taarī

ek ġham hai ki yakāyak hī ubal paḌtā hai

yaad kā phuul mahakte hī navāh-e-shab meñ

koī ḳhushbū se mulāqāt ko chal paḌtā hai

hujra-e-zāt meñ sannāTā hī aisā hai ki dil

dhyān meñ gūñjtī aahaT pe uchhal paḌtā hai

rok letā hai abad vaqt ke us paar kī raah

dūsrī samt se jā.ūñ to azal paḌtā hai

sā.atoñ kī yahī takrār hai jaarī har-dam

merī duniyā meñ koī aaj, na kal paḌtā hai

tāb-e-yak-lahza kahāñ husn-e-junūñ-ḳhez ke pesh

saañs lene se tavajjoh meñ ḳhalal paḌtā hai

mujh meñ phailī huī tārīkī se ghabrā ke koī

raushnī dekh ke mujh meñ se nikal paḌtā hai

jab bhī lagtā hai suḳhan kī na koī lau hai na rau

daf.atan harf koī ḳhuuñ meñ machal paḌtā hai

ġham chhupā.e nahīñ chhuptā hai karūñ kyā 'irfān'

naam luuñ us kā to āvāz meñ bal paḌtā hai

chup hai aaghaz mein, phir shor-e-ajal paDta hai

aur kahin bich mein imkan ka pal paDta hai

ek wahshat hai ki hoti hai achanak tari

ek gham hai ki yakayak hi ubal paDta hai

yaad ka phul mahakte hi nawah-e-shab mein

koi KHushbu se mulaqat ko chal paDta hai

hujra-e-zat mein sannaTa hi aisa hai ki dil

dhyan mein gunjti aahaT pe uchhal paDta hai

rok leta hai abad waqt ke us par ki rah

dusri samt se jaun to azal paDta hai

saaton ki yahi takrar hai jari har-dam

meri duniya mein koi aaj, na kal paDta hai

tab-e-yak-lahza kahan husn-e-junun-KHez ke pesh

sans lene se tawajjoh mein KHalal paDta hai

mujh mein phaili hui tariki se ghabra ke koi

raushni dekh ke mujh mein se nikal paDta hai

jab bhi lagta hai suKHan ki na koi lau hai na rau

dafatan harf koi KHun mein machal paDta hai

gham chhupae nahin chhupta hai karun kya 'irfan'

nam lun us ka to aawaz mein bal paDta hai