maut hi ek dawa hai aur wo jari hai

maut hī ek davā hai aur vo jaarī hai

ham ko zinda rahne kī bīmārī hai

sirf udaas rahoge gar tum sachche ho

baaqī har jazba-e-mashq fankārī hai

andar andar dar-ba-darī hī dar-ba-darī

bāhar bāhar ḳhuub dar-o-dīvārī hai

jism bahut bhārī haiñ shahr ke logoñ ke

jismoñ meñ dil haiñ to aur bhī bhārī haiñ

dariyā meñ sāhil haiñ daḳhl-andāz bahut

dariyā bechāra kyā hai bas jaarī hai

maiñ to apne aap se aarī huuñ kab se

phir ye kis ke hone kī tayyārī hai

sher meñ ek zarā sā hotā hai ilhām

us ke ba.ad to jo kuchh hai fankārī hai

fankārī to aire-ġhaire bhī kar leñ

aslan to ilhām meñ hī dushvārī hai

jism uḌā phirtā hai vahī bāzāroñ meñ

ruuh vahī masrūf-e-ḳhāna-dārī hai

chehra abhī tak hai ḳhāna-ābād mirā

us ke muqābil ā.īna-bāzārī hai

kāsa-e-jism banā baiThā hai jab dekho

ye farhat-ehsās ajiib bhikārī hai

maut hi ek dawa hai aur wo jari hai

hum ko zinda rahne ki bimari hai

sirf udas rahoge gar tum sachche ho

baqi har jazba-e-mashq fankari hai

andar andar dar-ba-dari hi dar-ba-dari

bahar bahar KHub dar-o-diwari hai

jism bahut bhaari hain shahr ke logon ke

jismon mein dil hain to aur bhi bhaari hain

dariya mein sahil hain daKHl-andaz bahut

dariya bechaara kya hai bas jari hai

main to apne aap se aari hun kab se

phir ye kis ke hone ki tayyari hai

sher mein ek zara sa hota hai ilham

us ke baad to jo kuchh hai fankari hai

fankari to aire-ghaire bhi kar len

aslan to ilham mein hi dushwari hai

jism uDa phirta hai wahi bazaron mein

ruh wahi masruf-e-KHana-dari hai

chehra abhi tak hai KHana-abaad mera

us ke muqabil aaina-bazari hai

kasa-e-jism bana baiTha hai jab dekho

ye farhat-ehsas ajib bhikari hai