ik shaḳhs raat band-e-qabā kholtā rahā
shab kī siyāhiyoñ meñ shafaq gholtā rahā
tanhā.iyoñ meñ aatī rahī jab bhī us kī yaad
saaya sā ik qarīb mire Doltā rahā
husn-e-bahār ḳhuub magar dīda-e-bahār
motī chaman kī ḳhaak pe kyuuñ roltā rahā
us ne sukūt ko bhī takallum samajh liyā
kuchh is adā-e-ḳhās se dil boltā rahā
hijrāñ kī raat mashġhala-e-dil se pūchhiye
us zulf-e-ḳham-ba-ḳham kī girah kholtā rahā
ham kushtagān-e-ḳhvāb girāñ-gosh hī rahe
sūraj saroñ pe vaqt-e-sahar boltā rahā
is rāh-e-jazb se bhī guzarnā paḌā 'zahīr'
jis raah meñ ḳhirad kā qadam Doltā rahā