shahr meñ ek ajab ḳhāk-ba-sar aayā hai
koī uftād paḌī hai ki idhar aayā hai

ye to us shahr ke raste bhī samajhte hoñge
aane vaalā baḌī rāhoñ se guzar aayā hai

kaun jogī hai kahīñ jis kā baserā na paḌāv
kyā musāfir hai ki be-shām-o-sahar aayā hai

kaisā vahshī hai ki vahshat kī hadeñ toḌ gayā
koī sahrā kī taraf jā ke bhī ghar aayā hai

har ḳham-e-jādā khulā sūrat-e-gesū kaisā
har ḳhat-e-sañg meñ kyā tujh ko nazar aayā hai

bazm-e-yārāñ nigrāñ ġhol-e-harīfāñ raqsāñ
ik tamāshā ba-tamāshā-e-digar aayā hai

zindagī karne lagī shahr ke halqe meñ tavāf
rāsta koh se dariyā meñ utar aayā hai

kab uThā bār-e-karam lekin uThā hai is baar
vaqt gardish meñ kab aayā thā magar aayā hai

vahī imkān-e-ġhurūb aur vahī sāmān-e-tulū
yā safar ḳhatm hai yā vaqt-e-safar aayā hai

shahr mein ek ajab KHak-ba-sar aaya hai
koi uftad paDi hai ki idhar aaya hai

ye to us shahr ke raste bhi samajhte honge
aane wala baDi rahon se guzar aaya hai

kaun jogi hai kahin jis ka basera na paDaw
kya musafir hai ki be-sham-o-sahar aaya hai

kaisa wahshi hai ki wahshat ki haden toD gaya
koi sahra ki taraf ja ke bhi ghar aaya hai

har KHam-e-jada khula surat-e-gesu kaisa
har KHat-e-sang mein kya tujh ko nazar aaya hai

bazm-e-yaran nigran ghol-e-harifan raqsan
ek tamasha ba-tamasha-e-digar aaya hai

zindagi karne lagi shahr ke halqe mein tawaf
rasta koh se dariya mein utar aaya hai

kab uTha bar-e-karam lekin uTha hai is bar
waqt gardish mein kab aaya tha magar aaya hai

wahi imkan-e-ghurub aur wahi saman-e-tulu
ya safar KHatm hai ya waqt-e-safar aaya hai