chand apna safar KHatm karta raha shama jalti rahi raat Dhalti rahi

chāñd apnā safar ḳhatm kartā rahā sham.a jaltī rahī raat Dhaltī rahī

ham tirī raah chup-chāp dekhā kiye ye kahānī isī tarah chaltī rahī

be-qarārī shab-e-hijr kī kyā kahūñ yaad terī kalejā masaltī rahī

chain dil se nigāheñ churātā rahā niiñd āñkhoñ meñ karvaT badaltī rahī

tāqat-e-zabt kī koshisheñ ik taraf sard aahoñ kā zor aur shor ik taraf

aañsū āñkhoñ se ruk ruk ke bahte rahe barf jamtī rahī aur pighaltī rahī

ham tirī yaad meñ is tarah mahv the kuchh ḳhabar hī na māhaul kī ho sakī

ġham kī nāgin kaleje pe baiThī huī muñh se sho.ale pe sho.ale ugaltī rahī

uf re pās-e-mohabbat kī majbūriyāñ umr ummīd hī meñ basar ho ga.ī

sub.h hotī rahī shaam hotī rahī baat va.adoñ hī va.adoñ pe Taltī rahī

bāvajūde-ki maḳhfī kisī se na thā kār-gāh-e-jahāñ jaa.e māñdan nahīñ

hukm-e-fitrat kī ta.amīl hotī rahī sāñcha bantā rahā shakl Dhaltī rahī

hajv-e-mai mimbar-e-ḳhisht-e-mai-ḳhāna par us pe turra ye saaqī ke hote hue

muft kā shaġhl rindoñ ke haath aa gayā ḳhuub vaa.iz kī pagḌī uchhaltī rahī

barq-e-hirmāñ girī aur girtī rahī baal biikā na ummīd kā kar sakī

valvaloñ ke paraḳhche uḌe jī bujhā par tamanna kī qindīl jaltī rahī

uf vo mub.ham se tevar uchaTtī nazar ham dorāhe pe vahm-o-yaqīñ ke rahe

sham-e-umīd turfa-tamāsha banī ḳhud hī bujhtī rahī ḳhud hī jaltī rahī

vo mohabbat kī sahbā-e-do-ātisha mere ham-mashrabo mai-kade meñ kahāñ

un nigāhoñ kā kaif-e-shabāna liye ḳhalvat-e-be-ḳhalal meñ jo Dhaltī rahī

ġhuncha-o-gul kā jab tak zamāna rahā 'āsif' apnī tabī.at rahī josh par

kaif-e-ishrat fazā se Tapaktā rahā aish kī mai zamīñ se ubaltī rahī

chand apna safar KHatm karta raha shama jalti rahi raat Dhalti rahi

hum teri rah chup-chap dekha kiye ye kahani isi tarah chalti rahi

be-qarari shab-e-hijr ki kya kahun yaad teri kaleja masalti rahi

chain dil se nigahen churaata raha nind aankhon mein karwaT badalti rahi

taqat-e-zabt ki koshishen ek taraf sard aahon ka zor aur shor ek taraf

aansu aankhon se ruk ruk ke bahte rahe barf jamti rahi aur pighalti rahi

hum teri yaad mein is tarah mahw the kuchh KHabar hi na mahaul ki ho saki

gham ki nagin kaleje pe baiThi hui munh se shoale pe shoale ugalti rahi

uf re pas-e-mohabbat ki majburiyan umr ummid hi mein basar ho gai

subh hoti rahi sham hoti rahi baat wadon hi wadon pe Talti rahi

bawajude-ki maKHfi kisi se na tha kar-gah-e-jahan jae mandan nahin

hukm-e-fitrat ki tamil hoti rahi sancha banta raha shakl Dhalti rahi

hajw-e-mai mimbar-e-KHisht-e-mai-KHana par us pe turra ye saqi ke hote hue

muft ka shaghl rindon ke hath aa gaya KHub waiz ki pagDi uchhalti rahi

barq-e-hirman giri aur girti rahi baal bika na ummid ka kar saki

walwalon ke paraKHche uDe ji bujha par tamanna ki qindil jalti rahi

uf wo mubham se tewar uchaTti nazar hum dorahe pe wahm-o-yaqin ke rahe

sham-e-umid turfa-tamasha bani KHud hi bujhti rahi KHud hi jalti rahi

wo mohabbat ki sahba-e-do-atisha mere ham-mashrabo mai-kade mein kahan

un nigahon ka kaif-e-shabana liye KHalwat-e-be-KHalal mein jo Dhalti rahi

ghuncha-o-gul ka jab tak zamana raha 'asif' apni tabiat rahi josh par

kaif-e-ishrat faza se Tapakta raha aish ki mai zamin se ubalti rahi