fanus-e-tamanna hai ki duniya mere aage

fānūs-e-tamannā hai ki duniyā mire aage

har rang meñ hai us kā sarāpā mire aage

vo kashtī-e-anfās meñ lamhoñ kā tasalsul

yuuñ bhī to rahā vaqt kā dariyā mire aage

ik naqsh ki be-ḳhvāb hai be-rang rahā hai

ik nuqta-e-parkār hai sahrā mire aage

āsūdgī-e-shab hai vahī sham'-e-farozāñ

rahtī hai vahī sūrat-e-zebā mire aage

vo daam kabhī zulf kabhī rang rahā hai

aayā mire pīchhe kabhī phailā mire aage

har qasr-e-ra'ūnat ko maiñ Thukrā ke chalā huuñ

fir'aun bhī pā-basta thā goyā mire aage

ye ḳhvāb-e-tarab-nāk bhī ġham de gayā mujh ko

vo ḳhvāb meñ aayā bhī to royā mire aage

maiñ jis kī 'ināyat kā talabgār rahā huuñ

samjhā hai mire baa'd na samjhā mire aage

jo tū ne kahā kyuuñ mirī taqdīr huā hai

jo maiñ ne kiyā kyuuñ na vo aayā mire aage

maslūb bhī mā'tūb bhī mansūb bhī ġham se

badlā hai ka.ī rang masīhā mire aage

ik zaḳhm bhī ik phuul bhī ik bhuul bhī merī

sā'at-gar-e-har-naqsh hai duniyā mire aage

ik abr kī sūrat thī ki vo merā junūñ thā

ik buuñd kī sūrat bhī na barsā mire aage

maiñ qais kī tasvīr banā baiThā huuñ jaise

lailā hai na ab mahmil-e-lailā mire aage

ġhālib se baḌā kaun huā shā'ir-e-mahfil

vo hāsil-e-har-she'r 'zafar' thā mire aage

fanus-e-tamanna hai ki duniya mere aage

har rang mein hai us ka sarapa mere aage

wo kashti-e-anfas mein lamhon ka tasalsul

yun bhi to raha waqt ka dariya mere aage

ek naqsh ki be-KHwab hai be-rang raha hai

ek nuqta-e-parkar hai sahra mere aage

aasudgi-e-shab hai wahi sham'-e-farozan

rahti hai wahi surat-e-zeba mere aage

wo dam kabhi zulf kabhi rang raha hai

aaya mere pichhe kabhi phaila mere aage

har qasr-e-ra'unat ko main Thukra ke chala hun

fir'aun bhi pa-basta tha goya mere aage

ye KHwab-e-tarab-nak bhi gham de gaya mujh ko

wo KHwab mein aaya bhi to roya mere aage

main jis ki 'inayat ka talabgar raha hun

samjha hai mere ba'd na samjha mere aage

jo tu ne kaha kyun meri taqdir hua hai

jo main ne kiya kyun na wo aaya mere aage

maslub bhi ma'tub bhi mansub bhi gham se

badla hai kai rang masiha mere aage

ek zaKHm bhi ek phul bhi ek bhul bhi meri

sa'at-gar-e-har-naqsh hai duniya mere aage

ek abr ki surat thi ki wo mera junun tha

ek bund ki surat bhi na barsa mere aage

main qais ki taswir bana baiTha hun jaise

laila hai na ab mahmil-e-laila mere aage

ghaalib se baDa kaun hua sha'ir-e-mahfil

wo hasil-e-har-she'r 'zafar' tha mere aage