nind ke gahre samundar mein jahan gharqab tha

niiñd ke gahre samundar meñ jahāñ ġharqāb thā

ek maiñ sāhil pe thā so māhī-e-be-āb thā

kyā batā.ūñ dosto un ke ḳhayāl aane kā haal

jhilmilātī jhiil meñ raqsāñ koī mahtāb thā

us ne jhaTkā apnī bhīgī zulf ko aur us ke baa'd

duur tak phailā huā sāyoñ kā ik sailāb thā

merā maazī aur kyā detā mujhe is ke sivā

phuul the shahnā.iyāñ thiiñ bistar-e-kam-ḳhvāb thā

sochtā rahtā huuñ āñkheñ band kar ke raat din

maiñ ne dekhā jo khulī āñkhoñ vo kaisā ḳhvāb thā

bah gaye āñkhoñ se jab aañsū to yaad aayā mujhe

ik jahān-e-ārzū ābād zer-e-āb thā

'umr guzrī sāhiloñ par sīpiyāñ chunte hue

jis meñ gauhar bhī ho koī vo sadaf nāyāb thā

duur se hotā rahā jis par sitāre kā gumāñ

jab qarīb aayā to vo bhī kirmak-e-shab-tāb thā

bar-sar-e-mahfil sabhī ne pā liyā e'zāz-e-jām

ek dīvāna tirā nā-vāqif-e-ādāb thā

merī kashtī ke liye āġhosh phailāte hue

yā ḳhudā kī zaat thī yā halqa-e-girdāb thā

ḳhvāb ke mānind mujh ko yaad aatā hai 'qatīl'

dil kā ye sahrā kabhī ik qarya-e-shādāb thā

nind ke gahre samundar mein jahan gharqab tha

ek main sahil pe tha so mahi-e-be-ab tha

kya bataun dosto un ke KHayal aane ka haal

jhilmilati jhil mein raqsan koi mahtab tha

us ne jhaTka apni bhigi zulf ko aur us ke ba'd

dur tak phaila hua sayon ka ek sailab tha

mera mazi aur kya deta mujhe is ke siwa

phul the shahnaiyan thin bistar-e-kam-KHwab tha

sochta rahta hun aankhen band kar ke raat din

main ne dekha jo khuli aankhon wo kaisa KHwab tha

bah gaye aankhon se jab aansu to yaad aaya mujhe

ek jahan-e-arzu aabaad zer-e-ab tha

'umr guzri sahilon par sipiyan chunte hue

jis mein gauhar bhi ho koi wo sadaf nayab tha

dur se hota raha jis par sitare ka guman

jab qarib aaya to wo bhi kirmak-e-shab-tab tha

bar-sar-e-mahfil sabhi ne pa liya e'zaz-e-jam

ek diwana tera na-waqif-e-adab tha

meri kashti ke liye aaghosh phailate hue

ya KHuda ki zat thi ya halqa-e-girdab tha

KHwab ke manind mujh ko yaad aata hai 'qatil'

dil ka ye sahra kabhi ek qarya-e-shadab tha