bichhaDte waqt to kuchh usMein gham-gusari thi

bichhaḌte vaqt to kuchh us meñ ġham-gusārī thī

vo aañkh phir to har ik kaifiyat se aarī thī

na jaane aaj havāoñ kī zad pe kaun aayā

na jaane aaj kī shab kis diye kī baarī thī

zarā sī der ko chamkī to thī ġhanīm kī teġh

savād-e-shahr meñ phir raushnī hamārī thī

safar se lauTe to jaise yaqīñ nahīñ aatā

ki saarī umr isī shahr meñ guzārī thī

harīf teġh se meñ apnī āgahī se laḌā

ye adl vaqt kare kis kī zarb kaarī thī

diloñ ke khel bhī kaise ajiib khel haiñ 'shauq'

ki maiñ udaas thā baazī kisī ne haarī thī

bichhaDte waqt to kuchh us mein gham-gusari thi

wo aankh phir to har ek kaifiyat se aari thi

na jaane aaj hawaon ki zad pe kaun aaya

na jaane aaj ki shab kis diye ki bari thi

zara si der ko chamki to thi ghanim ki tegh

sawad-e-shahr mein phir raushni hamari thi

safar se lauTe to jaise yaqin nahin aata

ki sari umr isi shahr mein guzari thi

harif tegh se mein apni aagahi se laDa

ye adl waqt kare kis ki zarb kari thi

dilon ke khel bhi kaise ajib khel hain 'shauq'

ki main udas tha bazi kisi ne haari thi