hamein nahin aate ye kartab nae zamane wale

hameñ nahīñ aate ye kartab na.e zamāne vaale

ham to sīdhe log haiñ yaaro vahī purāne vaale

un ke hote koī kamī hai rātoñ kī raunaq meñ

yādeñ ḳhvāb dikhāne vaalī ḳhvāb suhāne vaale

kahāñ ga.iiñ rangīn patañgeñ laTTū kāñch ke bañTe

ab to khel bhī bachchoñ ke haiñ dil dahlāne vaale

vo āñchal se ḳhushbū kī lapTeñ bikhrāte paikar

vo chilman kī oT se chehre chhab dikhlāne vaale

baam pe jaane vaale jāneñ us mahfil kī bāteñ

ham to Thahre us kūche meñ ḳhaak uḌāne vaale

jab guzroge un rastoñ se taptī dhuup meñ tanhā

tumheñ bahut yaad ā.eñge ham saa.e bichhāne vaale

tum tak shāyad der se pahuñche mirā mohazzab lahja

pahle zarā ḳhāmosh to hoñ ye shor machāne vaale

ham jo kaheñ so kahne denā sanjīda mat honā

ham to haiñ hī shā'ir baat se baat banāne vaale

achchhā pahlī baar kisī ko merī fikr huī hai

maiñ ne bahut dekhe haiñ tum jaise samjhāne vaale

aise labālab kab bhartā hai har ummīd kā kaasa

mujh ko hasrat se takte haiñ aane jaane vaale

saffākī meñ ek se haiñ sab jin ke saath bhī jaao

ka.abe vaale is jānib haiñ vo but-ḳhāne vaale

mere shahr meñ maañg ab to bas un logoñ kī hai

kafan banāne vaale yā murde nahlāne vaale

giit rasīle bol sajīle kahāñ sunoge ab tum

ab to kahtā hai 'irfān' bhī sher rulāne vaale

hamein nahin aate ye kartab nae zamane wale

hum to sidhe log hain yaro wahi purane wale

un ke hote koi kami hai raaton ki raunaq mein

yaaden KHwab dikhane wali KHwab suhane wale

kahan gain rangin patangen laTTu kanch ke banTe

ab to khel bhi bachchon ke hain dil dahlane wale

wo aanchal se KHushbu ki lapTen bikhraate paikar

wo chilman ki oT se chehre chhab dikhlane wale

baam pe jaane wale jaanen us mahfil ki baaten

hum to Thahre us kuche mein KHak uDane wale

jab guzroge un raston se tapti dhup mein tanha

tumhein bahut yaad aaenge hum sae bichhane wale

tum tak shayad der se pahunche mera mohazzab lahja

pahle zara KHamosh to hon ye shor machane wale

hum jo kahen so kahne dena sanjida mat hona

hum to hain hi sha'ir baat se baat banane wale

achchha pahli bar kisi ko meri fikr hui hai

main ne bahut dekhe hain tum jaise samjhane wale

aise labaalab kab bharta hai har ummid ka kasa

mujh ko hasrat se takte hain aane jaane wale

saffaki mein ek se hain sab jin ke sath bhi jao

kabe wale is jaanib hain wo but-KHane wale

mere shahr mein mang ab to bas un logon ki hai

kafan banane wale ya murde nahlane wale

git rasile bol sajile kahan sunoge ab tum

ab to kahta hai 'irfan' bhi sher rulane wale