kitne pech-o-tāb meñ zanjīr honā hai mujhe
gard meñ gum ḳhvāb kī ta.abīr honā hai mujhe

jis kī tābinda taḌap sadiyoñ meñ bhī sīnoñ meñ bhī
ek aise lamhe kī tafsīr honā hai mujhe

ḳhasta-dam hote hue dīvār-o-dar se kyā kahūñ
kaise ḳhisht-o-ḳhāk se ta.amīr honā hai mujhe

shahr ke me.aar se maiñ jo bhī huuñ jaisā bhī huuñ
apnī hastī se tirī tauqīr honā hai mujhe

ik zamāne ke liye harf-e-ġhalat Thahrā huuñ maiñ
ik zamāne kā ḳhat-e-taqdīr honā hai mujhe

'yūsuf' apne dard kī sūrat-garī karte hue
ḳhud bhī lauh-e-ḳhāk par tasvīr honā hai mujhe

kitne pech-o-tab mein zanjir hona hai mujhe
gard mein gum KHwab ki tabir hona hai mujhe

jis ki tabinda taDap sadiyon mein bhi sinon mein bhi
ek aise lamhe ki tafsir hona hai mujhe

KHasta-dam hote hue diwar-o-dar se kya kahun
kaise KHisht-o-KHak se tamir hona hai mujhe

shahr ke mear se main jo bhi hun jaisa bhi hun
apni hasti se teri tauqir hona hai mujhe

ek zamane ke liye harf-e-ghalat Thahra hun main
ek zamane ka KHat-e-taqdir hona hai mujhe

'yusuf' apne dard ki surat-gari karte hue
KHud bhi lauh-e-KHak par taswir hona hai mujhe

Source: Book : Urdu Adab (Pg. 68) Author : Iqbal Hussain Publication : Iqbal Hussain Publishers (Jan, Feb. Mar 1996) Edition : Jan, Feb. Mar 1996