ik aisā marhala-e-rah-guzar bhī aatā hai
koī fasīl-e-anā se utar bhī aatā hai

tirī talāsh meñ jaane kahāñ bhaTak jā.ūñ
safar meñ dasht bhī aatā hai ghar bhī aatā hai

talāsh saa.e kī laa.ī jo dasht se to khulā
azāb-e-sūrat-e-dīvār-o-dar bhī aatā hai

sakūñ to jab ho ki maiñ chhāñv sehn meñ dekhūñ
nazar to vaise galī kā shajar bhī aatā hai

badan kī ḳhaak sameTe hue ho kyā logo
safar meñ lamha-e-tark-e-safar bhī aatā hai

diloñ ko zaḳhm na do harf-e-nā-mulā.em se
ye tiir vo hai ki jo lauT kar bhī aatā hai

maiñ shahr meñ kise ilzām-e-nā-shanāsī duuñ
ye harf ḳhud mire kirdār par bhī aatā hai

nazar ye kis se milī nā-gahāñ ki yaad aayā
isī galī meñ kahīñ merā ghar bhī aatā hai

havā ke ruḳh pe nazar tā.irān-e-ḳhush-parvāz
qafas kā saaya pas-e-bāl-o-par bhī aatā hai

maiñ harf harf meñ utrā huuñ raushnī kī tarah
so kā.enāt kā chehra nazar bhī aatā hai

lahū se harf tarāsheñ jo merī tarah ummīd
unhīñ ke hisse meñ zaḳhm-e-hunar bhī aatā hai

ek aisa marhala-e-rah-guzar bhi aata hai
koi fasil-e-ana se utar bhi aata hai

teri talash mein jaane kahan bhaTak jaun
safar mein dasht bhi aata hai ghar bhi aata hai

talash sae ki lai jo dasht se to khula
azab-e-surat-e-diwar-o-dar bhi aata hai

sakun to jab ho ki main chhanw sehn mein dekhun
nazar to waise gali ka shajar bhi aata hai

badan ki KHak sameTe hue ho kya logo
safar mein lamha-e-tark-e-safar bhi aata hai

dilon ko zaKHm na do harf-e-na-mulaem se
ye tir wo hai ki jo lauT kar bhi aata hai

main shahr mein kise ilzam-e-na-shanasi dun
ye harf KHud mere kirdar par bhi aata hai

nazar ye kis se mili na-gahan ki yaad aaya
isi gali mein kahin mera ghar bhi aata hai

hawa ke ruKH pe nazar tairan-e-KHush-parwaz
qafas ka saya pas-e-baal-o-par bhi aata hai

main harf harf mein utra hun raushni ki tarah
so kaenat ka chehra nazar bhi aata hai

lahu se harf tarashen jo meri tarah ummid
unhin ke hisse mein zaKHm-e-hunar bhi aata hai

Source: Book : naquush (Pg. 237) Edition : 1979