mere nasib mein thi dosto kitab ghalat

mire nasīb meñ thī dosto kitāb ġhalat

kahīñ savāl ġhalat thā kahīñ javāb ġhalat

mire harīf ko ehsās is kā thā shāyad

huā thā mere muqābil vo kāmyāb ġhalat

mire gunāh se baḌh kar sazā milī mujh ko

likhā gayā thā yaqīnan mirā hisāb ġhalat

qadam qadam pe mujhe sharmsār honā paḌā

kahīñ gunāh ġhalat thā kahīñ savāb ġhalat

'ajīb silsila thā zindagī kī rātoñ kā

kabhī to niiñd ġhalat thī kabhī thā ḳhvāb ġhalat

har ek shaḳhs ne dhoka mirī nazar ko diyā

har ek shaḳhs thā oḌhe hue naqāb ġhalat

maiñ apnī tishna-labī kā 'ilāj kyā kartā

kahīñ to jaam ġhalat thā kahīñ sharāb ġhalat

mirī nazar hī 'kañval' raushnī se Dartī thī

na āftāb ġhalat thā na māhtāb ġhalat

mere nasib mein thi dosto kitab ghalat

kahin sawal ghalat tha kahin jawab ghalat

mere harif ko ehsas is ka tha shayad

hua tha mere muqabil wo kaamyab ghalat

mere gunah se baDh kar saza mili mujh ko

likha gaya tha yaqinan mera hisab ghalat

qadam qadam pe mujhe sharmsar hona paDa

kahin gunah ghalat tha kahin sawab ghalat

'ajib silsila tha zindagi ki raaton ka

kabhi to nind ghalat thi kabhi tha KHwab ghalat

har ek shaKHs ne dhoka meri nazar ko diya

har ek shaKHs tha oDhe hue naqab ghalat

main apni tishna-labi ka 'ilaj kya karta

kahin to jam ghalat tha kahin sharab ghalat

meri nazar hi 'kanwal' raushni se Darti thi

na aaftab ghalat tha na mahtab ghalat