kahna na mana kucha-e-qatil mein rah gaya

kahnā na maanā kūcha-e-qātil meñ rah gayā

achchhā huā jo dil kisī mushkil meñ rah gayā

kyā pūchhte ho aise musāfir kī sarguzisht

jis ko ki dil bhī chhoḌ ke manzil meñ rah gayā

niklā thā ban sañvar ke bahut chaudhvīñ kā chāñd

phir bhī vo tere ruḳh ke muqābil meñ rah gayā

qātil ne teġh myaan meñ kuchh soch kar rakhī

thoḌā sā jab ki dam tan-e-bismil meñ rah gayā

dirham milā bhī mun.im-e-kaj-ḳhulq se agar

ik daaġh ban ke vo kaf-e-sā.il meñ rah gayā

itnā batā de us ke uThāne se fā.eda

tasvīr ban ke jo tirī mahfil meñ rah gayā

kyā jaane bahr-e-ishq kī hālat vo bad-nasīb

dam toḌ kar jo dāman-e-sāhil meñ rah gayā

fikr us kī rañj us kā ummīd us kī kuchh na pūchh

jo sar jhukā ke kūcha-e-qātil meñ rah gayā

tābīr-e-ḳhvāb zulf-e-musalsal thī kyā yahī

'ālim' jakaḌ ke maiñ jo salāsil meñ rah gayā

kahna na mana kucha-e-qatil mein rah gaya

achchha hua jo dil kisi mushkil mein rah gaya

kya puchhte ho aise musafir ki sarguzisht

jis ko ki dil bhi chhoD ke manzil mein rah gaya

nikla tha ban sanwar ke bahut chaudhwin ka chand

phir bhi wo tere ruKH ke muqabil mein rah gaya

qatil ne tegh myan mein kuchh soch kar rakhi

thoDa sa jab ki dam tan-e-bismil mein rah gaya

dirham mila bhi munim-e-kaj-KHulq se agar

ek dagh ban ke wo kaf-e-sail mein rah gaya

itna bata de us ke uThane se faeda

taswir ban ke jo teri mahfil mein rah gaya

kya jaane bahr-e-ishq ki haalat wo bad-nasib

dam toD kar jo daman-e-sahil mein rah gaya

fikr us ki ranj us ka ummid us ki kuchh na puchh

jo sar jhuka ke kucha-e-qatil mein rah gaya

tabir-e-KHwab zulf-e-musalsal thi kya yahi

'alim' jakaD ke main jo salasil mein rah gaya