har lamha tha sau sal ka Talta bhi to kaise

har lamha thā sau saal kā Taltā bhī to kaise

le aa.ī shab-e-ġham koī martā bhī to kaise

ik aag thī jo phūñk rahī thī do-jahāñ ko

vo dil se mire ho ke guzartā bhī to kaise

ham pyaas ke māroñ ne 'abas aas lagā.ī

barsā huā bādal thā barastā bhī to kaise

gulchīñ kī nazar taak meñ rahtī thī barābar

ġhuncha koī khiltā bhī mahaktā bhī to kaise

tinke kī rukāvaT bhī na thī ġhaar kī tah meñ

phir phailā huā paañv sañbhaltā bhī to kaise

saaya na koī naqsh-e-qadam kūcha na bāzār

sahrā ke safar meñ thā bhaTaktā bhī to kaise

siine meñ koī sho'la na nazroñ meñ kahīñ barq

'shohrat' bhalā dil merā bahaltā bhī to kaise

har lamha tha sau sal ka Talta bhi to kaise

le aai shab-e-gham koi marta bhi to kaise

ek aag thi jo phunk rahi thi do-jahan ko

wo dil se mere ho ke guzarta bhi to kaise

hum pyas ke maron ne 'abas aas lagai

barsa hua baadal tha barasta bhi to kaise

gulchin ki nazar tak mein rahti thi barabar

ghuncha koi khilta bhi mahakta bhi to kaise

tinke ki rukawaT bhi na thi ghaar ki tah mein

phir phaila hua panw sanbhalta bhi to kaise

saya na koi naqsh-e-qadam kucha na bazar

sahra ke safar mein tha bhaTakta bhi to kaise

sine mein koi sho'la na nazron mein kahin barq

'shohrat' bhala dil mera bahalta bhi to kaise