is zindagī meñ kuchh to tab-o-tāb chāhiye
āñkhoñ ko roz ek nayā ḳhvāb chāhiye
is shahr-e-be-misāl kī galiyoñ ke saath saath
sar par ridā-e-anjum-o-mahtāb chāhiye
ḳhāmoshiyoñ ko izn-e-takallum jahāñ mile
vo bazm aur vo halqa-e-ahbāb chāhiye
lamha-ba-lamha lagte raheñ zaḳhm be-shumār
halqa-ba-halqa ik nayā girdāb chāhiye
dil meñ kisī ke ġham kī kamāneñ tanī raheñ
chehra magar ba-hālat-e-shādāb chāhiye
ai yād-e-yār abr kī sūrat kabhī baras
dariyā-e-dil ko dard kā sailāb chāhiye
gahre samundaroñ ke safar se patā chalā
jiinā ba-shakl-e-mauj tah-e-āb chāhiye
us shahryār-e-husn se kam-kam karo ḳhitāb
'ashfāq' ishq meñ had-e-ādāb chāhiye