bhul kar pahlu-e-ummid main aaya na gaya

bhuul kar pahlū-e-ummīd maiñ aayā na gayā

jo patā ham ko batāyā thā vo paayā na gayā

qalam-andāz-e-fanā huuñ mirī vaq.at dekho

maiñ huuñ vo harf-e-mukarrar jo miTāyā na gayā

is takalluf pe kahāñ lutf ham-āġhoshī kā

aap se pahlū-e-tasvīr meñ aayā na gayā

vo adā aur thī ye aur hai phir aur sahī

be-niyāzī se koī rañg jamāyā na gayā

is rukāvaT meñ bhī nairañg-e-dil-āvezī hai

ruuTh jaane kī hai ḳhūbī ki manāyā na gayā

de diyā taaq se ā.īna uThā kar un ko

haal mujh se dil-e-hairāñ kā dikhāyā na gayā

varaq-e-hashr lagāyā hai adam ke pīchhe

jab mirā haal ḳhamoshī se jatāyā na gayā

rabt-o-be-rabtī-e-anfās se kuchh bhī na huā

ye ġhubār-e-ġham-e-dil thā ki uḌāyā na gayā

bekasī-hā-e-tamannā se hayā aane lagī

terī tasvīr ko siine se lagāyā na gayā

dekhnā charḳh-e-jafā-kār kī majbūrī ko

is tarah ham ko girāyā ki uThāyā na gayā

ai 'vafā' ārzū-e-marg ne jī chhoḌ diyā

dast-e-ahbāb se ab zahr bhī khāyā na gayā

bhul kar pahlu-e-ummid main aaya na gaya

jo pata hum ko bataya tha wo paya na gaya

qalam-andaz-e-fana hun meri waqat dekho

main hun wo harf-e-mukarrar jo miTaya na gaya

is takalluf pe kahan lutf ham-aghoshi ka

aap se pahlu-e-taswir mein aaya na gaya

wo ada aur thi ye aur hai phir aur sahi

be-niyazi se koi rang jamaya na gaya

is rukawaT mein bhi nairang-e-dil-awezi hai

ruTh jaane ki hai KHubi ki manaya na gaya

de diya taq se aaina uTha kar un ko

haal mujh se dil-e-hairan ka dikhaya na gaya

waraq-e-hashr lagaya hai adam ke pichhe

jab mera haal KHamoshi se jataya na gaya

rabt-o-be-rabti-e-anfas se kuchh bhi na hua

ye ghubar-e-gham-e-dil tha ki uDaya na gaya

bekasi-ha-e-tamanna se haya aane lagi

teri taswir ko sine se lagaya na gaya

dekhna charKH-e-jafa-kar ki majburi ko

is tarah hum ko giraya ki uThaya na gaya

ai 'wafa' aarzu-e-marg ne ji chhoD diya

dast-e-ahbab se ab zahr bhi khaya na gaya