mere qarib se guzra ek ajnabi ki tarah

mire qarīb se guzrā ik ajnabī kī tarah

vo kaj-adā jo milā bhī to zindagī kī tarah

milā na thā to gumāñ us pe thā farishtoñ kā

jo ab milā hai to lagtā hai aadmī kī tarah

kiran kiran utar aa.ī hai rauzan-e-dil se

kisī hasīñ kī tamannā bhī raushnī kī tarah

mirī nigāh se dekho to ham-zabāñ ho jaao

ki dushmanī bhī kisī kī hai dostī kī tarah

na milne vaale kināroñ kā naam Thahrā shauq

gurez-pā hai jahāñ husn ik nadī kī tarah

na khul sakā to lahū ho ke bah gayā hai dil

kabhī khilā to mahak uTThegā kalī kī tarah

hazār she'r haiñ aur ek ḳhāmushī kī adā

hazār rang haiñ aur ek sādgī kī tarah

bahut dinoñ meñ mile haiñ ham aaj 'ishqī' se

nahīñ vo phir bhī koī shaḳhs hai usī kī tarah

mere qarib se guzra ek ajnabi ki tarah

wo kaj-ada jo mila bhi to zindagi ki tarah

mila na tha to guman us pe tha farishton ka

jo ab mila hai to lagta hai aadmi ki tarah

kiran kiran utar aai hai rauzan-e-dil se

kisi hasin ki tamanna bhi raushni ki tarah

meri nigah se dekho to ham-zaban ho jao

ki dushmani bhi kisi ki hai dosti ki tarah

na milne wale kinaron ka nam Thahra shauq

gurez-pa hai jahan husn ek nadi ki tarah

na khul saka to lahu ho ke bah gaya hai dil

kabhi khila to mahak uTThega kali ki tarah

hazar she'r hain aur ek KHamushi ki ada

hazar rang hain aur ek sadgi ki tarah

bahut dinon mein mile hain hum aaj 'ishqi' se

nahin wo phir bhi koi shaKHs hai usi ki tarah