kitna udas udas ye daur-e-hayat hai

kitnā udaas udaas ye daur-e-hayāt hai

insāñ kī zindagī nahīñ jangal kī raat hai

jab chhiḌ ga.ī ġhazal tirī āñkheñ chamak uThīñ

āvāz merī jaise tire dil kī baat hai

Dhaltī hai terī yaad kī shabnam se gard-e-ġham

dushvār varna kitnī ye rāh-e-hayāt hai

chhoḌā na terī yaad ne ik lamha dil kā saath

ham tujh se be-ḳhabar rahe ye aur baat hai

ai kaash tum bhī aise meñ hote mire qarīb

bhīgī huī sharāb meñ sāvan kī raat hai

tum bhī vahī ho maiñ bhī vahī huuñ phir aaj kyuuñ

vo pursish-e-karam hai na vo iltifāt hai

apnī tabāhiyoñ kā gilā kis se ham kareñ

duniyā ke saath saath tumhārā bhī haat hai

dil un kī bazm-e-nāz meñ tasvīr ban na jaa.e

kahnī kisī se aaj mujhe ek baat hai

kyuuñ kar asar kare na mirā sher ai 'shahāb'

mere dil-e-shikasta kī ye vārdāt hai

kitna udas udas ye daur-e-hayat hai

insan ki zindagi nahin jangal ki raat hai

jab chhiD gai ghazal teri aankhen chamak uThin

aawaz meri jaise tere dil ki baat hai

Dhalti hai teri yaad ki shabnam se gard-e-gham

dushwar warna kitni ye rah-e-hayat hai

chhoDa na teri yaad ne ek lamha dil ka sath

hum tujh se be-KHabar rahe ye aur baat hai

ai kash tum bhi aise mein hote mere qarib

bhigi hui sharab mein sawan ki raat hai

tum bhi wahi ho main bhi wahi hun phir aaj kyun

wo pursish-e-karam hai na wo iltifat hai

apni tabahiyon ka gila kis se hum karen

duniya ke sath sath tumhaara bhi hat hai

dil un ki bazm-e-naz mein taswir ban na jae

kahni kisi se aaj mujhe ek baat hai

kyun kar asar kare na mera sher ai 'shahab'

mere dil-e-shikasta ki ye wardat hai