hayat ek saz-e-be-sada thi surud-e-umr-e-rawan se pahle

hayāt ik sāz-e-be-sadā thī surūd-e-umr-e-ravāñ se pahle

bashar kī taqdīr so rahī thī ḳhatā-e-bāġh-e-jināñ se pahle

nazar ne kī nazr-e-rūh-o-dil pesh-e-lab pe shor-e-fuġhāñ se pahle

adā huā sajda-e-mohabbat ḳharosh-e-bāñg-e-azāñ se pahle

badal gayā ishq kā zamāna kahāñ se pahuñchā kahāñ fasāna

unheñ bhī mujh par zabān aa.ī vahī jo the be-zabāñ se pahle

kise ḳhabar thī ki ban ke barq-e-ġhazab giregā yahī chaman par

vo husn jo muskurā rahā thā naqāb-e-abr-e-ravāñ se pahle

sitam to shāyad maiñ bhuul jaatā agar ye nashtar chubhā na hotā

vo ik nigāh-e-karam jo kī thī nigāh-e-nā-mehrbāñ se pahle

nazar hai vīrāñ mirī to kyā ġham nazar ke jalve to haiñ salāmat

na the tum itne hasīñ mirī mohabbat-e-rā.egāñ se pahle

tirī taraf phir nazar karūñgā nishāt-e-hastī-e-jāvidānī

ḳharīd luuñ lazzat-e-alam kuchh matā-e-umr-e-ravāñ se pahle

bichhaḌ ga.e rāh-e-zīst meñ ham tumheñ bhī is kā agar hai kuchh ġham

chaleñ vahīñ se phir aao bāham chale the ham tum jahāñ se pahle

qafas kī lohe kī tīliyāñ ab unhīñ kī zarboñ se ḳhūñ-chakāñ haiñ

yahī jo the muntashir se tinke tasavvur-e-āshiyāñ se pahle

chaman meñ hañsne se phir na rokūñgā ġhuncha-e-sāda-lauh tujh ko

magar zarā āshnā to ho jā tabī.at-e-bāġhbāñ se pahle

nazar ke sho.ale diloñ meñ ik aag har do jānib lagā chuke haiñ

bas ab to ye rah gayā hai baaqī ki lau uThegī kahāñ se pahle

na DhūñDo 'mullā' ko kārvāñ meñ phiregā sahrā meñ vo akelā

kisī sabab se jo tā-ba-manzil na aa sakā kārvāñ se pahle

hayat ek saz-e-be-sada thi surud-e-umr-e-rawan se pahle

bashar ki taqdir so rahi thi KHata-e-bagh-e-jinan se pahle

nazar ne ki nazr-e-ruh-o-dil pesh-e-lab pe shor-e-fughan se pahle

ada hua sajda-e-mohabbat KHarosh-e-bang-e-azan se pahle

badal gaya ishq ka zamana kahan se pahuncha kahan fasana

unhen bhi mujh par zaban aai wahi jo the be-zaban se pahle

kise KHabar thi ki ban ke barq-e-ghazab girega yahi chaman par

wo husn jo muskura raha tha naqab-e-abr-e-rawan se pahle

sitam to shayad main bhul jata agar ye nashtar chubha na hota

wo ek nigah-e-karam jo ki thi nigah-e-na-mehrban se pahle

nazar hai viran meri to kya gham nazar ke jalwe to hain salamat

na the tum itne hasin meri mohabbat-e-raegan se pahle

teri taraf phir nazar karunga nishat-e-hasti-e-jawidani

KHarid lun lazzat-e-alam kuchh mata-e-umr-e-rawan se pahle

bichhaD gae rah-e-zist mein hum tumhein bhi is ka agar hai kuchh gham

chalen wahin se phir aao baham chale the hum tum jahan se pahle

qafas ki lohe ki tiliyan ab unhin ki zarbon se KHun-chakan hain

yahi jo the muntashir se tinke tasawwur-e-ashiyan se pahle

chaman mein hansne se phir na rokunga ghuncha-e-sada-lauh tujh ko

magar zara aashna to ho ja tabiat-e-baghban se pahle

nazar ke shoale dilon mein ek aag har do jaanib laga chuke hain

bas ab to ye rah gaya hai baqi ki lau uThegi kahan se pahle

na DhunDo 'mulla' ko karwan mein phirega sahra mein wo akela

kisi sabab se jo ta-ba-manzil na aa saka karwan se pahle