har-chand ki thā hijr meñ andesha-e-jāñ bhī
āḳhir ko to ham se hī uThā bār-e-girāñ bhī

ik gosha-e-dar rakkhā hai mahfūz hamārā
is vus.at-e-kaunain meñ ham jaa.eñ jahāñ bhī

ma.adūm bhī huuñ ahl-e-tamāshā kī nazar meñ
bikhrā hai har ik samt magar merā nishāñ bhī

kuchh kam na huā rizq ḳhudā tere gadā par
har chand ki galiyoñ meñ uThā shor-e-sagāñ bhī

kaam aatī hai akasr to yahī ḳhāna-badoshī
rakhne ko to ham shahr meñ rakhte haiñ makāñ bhī

us vaqt ajab hotā hai tarsīl kā aalam
lafzoñ ko taras jaate haiñ jab ahl-e-zabāñ bhī

har-chand ki tha hijr mein andesha-e-jaan bhi
aaKHir ko to hum se hi uTha bar-e-giran bhi

ek gosha-e-dar rakkha hai mahfuz hamara
is wusat-e-kaunain mein hum jaen jahan bhi

madum bhi hun ahl-e-tamasha ki nazar mein
bikhra hai har ek samt magar mera nishan bhi

kuchh kam na hua rizq KHuda tere gada par
har chand ki galiyon mein uTha shor-e-sagan bhi

kaam aati hai akasr to yahi KHana-badoshi
rakhne ko to hum shahr mein rakhte hain makan bhi

us waqt ajab hota hai tarsil ka aalam
lafzon ko taras jate hain jab ahl-e-zaban bhi