kisi paiman-e-baham ke qafas hone se pahle

kisī paimān-e-bāham ke qafas hone se pahle

parakhnā ḳhud pe us kī dastaras hone se pahle

sitam hai vaqt kā aur vaqt kab kis kā huā hai

tanāvar peḌ thī maiñ ḳhār-o-ḳhas hone se pahle

baḌī tartīb se chaltā hai kārobār-e-gulshan

hai khilnā gul kā juuñ said-e-magas hone se pahle

zarā sā chhū ke kundan kar diyā hai tan-badan ko

ġhubār-e-rāh thī maiñ tum se mas hone se pahle

kabhī aao ki mujh ko e'tibār-e-zindagī ho

magar ye zindagī kār-e-‘abas hone se pahle

asar dil par huā hai jo tumhārī be-ruḳhī se

koī marham asar ke dūr-ras hone se pahle

rahe ye dhyān meñ pal pal badalte haiñ ravayye

hisār-e-'ishq ke dām-e-havas hone se pahle

bahut lambī masāfat zindagī kam hai so karnā

safar āġhāz āvāz-e-jaras hone se pahle

haiñ jis kī muntazir 'nasrīñ' ye āñkheñ kaash aa.e

fanā-e-naġhma-e-tār-e-nafas hone se pahle

kisi paiman-e-baham ke qafas hone se pahle

parakhna KHud pe us ki dastaras hone se pahle

sitam hai waqt ka aur waqt kab kis ka hua hai

tanawar peD thi main KHar-o-KHas hone se pahle

baDi tartib se chalta hai karobar-e-gulshan

hai khilna gul ka jun said-e-magas hone se pahle

zara sa chhu ke kundan kar diya hai tan-badan ko

ghubar-e-rah thi main tum se mas hone se pahle

kabhi aao ki mujh ko e'tibar-e-zindagi ho

magar ye zindagi kar-e-‘abas hone se pahle

asar dil par hua hai jo tumhaari be-ruKHi se

koi marham asar ke dur-ras hone se pahle

rahe ye dhyan mein pal pal badalte hain rawayye

hisar-e-'ishq ke dam-e-hawas hone se pahle

bahut lambi masafat zindagi kam hai so karna

safar aaghaz aawaz-e-jaras hone se pahle

hain jis ki muntazir 'nasrin' ye aankhen kash aae

fana-e-naghma-e-tar-e-nafas hone se pahle