hamāre sar pe ye aksar ġhazab hotā hī rahtā hai
lahū ummīd kā ham se talab hotā hī rahtā hai

nikaltī hī nahīñ dil se kabhī yādeñ mohabbat kī
sitam us dil pe apne roz-o-shab hotā hī rahtā hai

purāne log rahte haiñ nigāhoñ meñ sadā merī
koī pesh-e-nazar nām-o-nasab hotā hī rahtā hai

koī sūrat tabāhī kī nikaltī rahtī hai aksar
ujaḌne kā koī taaza sabab hotā hī rahtā hai

hamesha ḳhuun karte haiñ hamārī ārzūoñ kā
tamannāoñ kā nazrāna talab hotā hī rahtā hai

ye laḌnā aur jhagaḌnā hai sabhī ma.amūl kī bāteñ
ḳhafā ham se vo aksar be-sabab hotā hī hotā hai

sitāroñ kī taraf uThtī hī rahtī hai nazar apnī
shab-e-tārīk meñ aisā to sab hotā hī rahtā hai

qayāmat hotī rahtī hai bapā ab shahr meñ har-sū
yahāñ mahshar bapā ai dost ab hotā hī rahtā hai

suḳhan pāmāl hotā hai 'nabīl' is ahd meñ har pal
yahāñ pāmāl har lamha adab hotā hī rahtā hai

hamare sar pe ye aksar ghazab hota hi rahta hai
lahu ummid ka hum se talab hota hi rahta hai

nikalti hi nahin dil se kabhi yaaden mohabbat ki
sitam us dil pe apne roz-o-shab hota hi rahta hai

purane log rahte hain nigahon mein sada meri
koi pesh-e-nazar nam-o-nasab hota hi rahta hai

koi surat tabahi ki nikalti rahti hai aksar
ujaDne ka koi taza sabab hota hi rahta hai

hamesha KHun karte hain hamari aarzuon ka
tamannaon ka nazrana talab hota hi rahta hai

ye laDna aur jhagaDna hai sabhi mamul ki baaten
KHafa hum se wo aksar be-sabab hota hi hota hai

sitaron ki taraf uThti hi rahti hai nazar apni
shab-e-tarik mein aisa to sab hota hi rahta hai

qayamat hoti rahti hai bapa ab shahr mein har-su
yahan mahshar bapa ai dost ab hota hi rahta hai

suKHan pamal hota hai 'nabil' is ahd mein har pal
yahan pamal har lamha adab hota hi rahta hai