mish.al-ba-kaf kabhī to kabhī dil-ba-dast thā
maiñ sail-e-tīrgī meñ tajallī-parast thā
har ik kamand arsa-e-āfāq hī pe thī
lekin buland jitnā huā utnā past thā
thī hausle kī baat zamāne meñ zindagī
qadmoñ kā fāsla bhī yahāñ ek jast thā
bikhre hue the log ḳhud apne vajūd meñ
insāñ kī zindagī kā ajab bandobast thā
marne ke ba.ad azmat o shohrat se fā.eda
lekin jahāñ tamām hī murda-parast thā
sarmāya-e-hayāt the kuchh naqd-e-dāġh-e-dil
sach baat to hai ye ki bahut tañg-dast thā
arz-e-niyāz-e-shauq se thā be-niyāz dil
mulk-e-havas meñ 'ashk' akelā hī mast thā