zindagi yun hai ki mail-ba-fana ho jaise

zindagī yuuñ hai ki mā.il-ba-fanā ho jaise

koī miTtā huā naqsh-e-kaf-e-pā ho jaise

kitnī be-jān hai is fasl ke phūloñ kī hañsī

jāñkanī meñ koī mafhūm adā ho jaise

mai ye dī hai ki mire nafs ko rishvat saaqī

dil dukhānā tire mashrab meñ ravā ho jaise

barg-e-gul qatra-e-shabnam se jhukā jaatā hai

bār-e-ehsāñ baḌī mushkil se uThā ho jaise

yuuñ baḌhe jaate haiñ tūfān kī jānib kuchh log

un kī kashtī ke muāfiq hī havā ho jaise

be-dilī apnā muqaddar hai hamesha se magar

aaj to shīsha-e-dil TuuT gayā ho jaise

kis ke qadmoñ kī ye aahaT sī hai zindāñ ke qarīb

vaqt ke dil ke dhaḌakne kī sadā ho jaise

gum hai hangāma-e-hālāt meñ yuuñ rūh-e-nashāt

dam-ba-ḳhud kunj-e-gulistāñ meñ sabā ho jaise

aaj yuuñ zehn meñ raushan hue maazī ke nuqūsh

koī ujḌā huā ghar phir se basā ho jaise

mujh ko iz.hār-e-sadāqat kī bhī miltī hai sazā

maiñ ne ai 'lais' koī jurm kiyā ho jaise

zindagi yun hai ki mail-ba-fana ho jaise

koi miTta hua naqsh-e-kaf-e-pa ho jaise

kitni be-jaan hai is fasl ke phulon ki hansi

jaankani mein koi mafhum ada ho jaise

mai ye di hai ki mere nafs ko rishwat saqi

dil dukhana tere mashrab mein rawa ho jaise

barg-e-gul qatra-e-shabnam se jhuka jata hai

bar-e-ehsan baDi mushkil se uTha ho jaise

yun baDhe jate hain tufan ki jaanib kuchh log

un ki kashti ke muafiq hi hawa ho jaise

be-dili apna muqaddar hai hamesha se magar

aaj to shisha-e-dil TuT gaya ho jaise

kis ke qadmon ki ye aahaT si hai zindan ke qarib

waqt ke dil ke dhaDakne ki sada ho jaise

gum hai hangama-e-haalat mein yun ruh-e-nashat

dam-ba-KHud kunj-e-gulistan mein saba ho jaise

aaj yun zehn mein raushan hue mazi ke nuqush

koi ujDa hua ghar phir se basa ho jaise

mujh ko izhaar-e-sadaqat ki bhi milti hai saza

main ne ai 'lais' koi jurm kiya ho jaise