nazzara ajab uske gareban ki taraf tha

nazzāra ajab us ke garebāñ kī taraf thā

har aañkh kā ruḳh sīna-e-uryāñ kī taraf thā

maiñ dekh rahā thā kahīñ jaltī huī sham.eñ

aur dhyān mirā dūd-e-pareshāñ kī taraf thā

maiñ leTā rahā ghaas pe saa.e meñ baḌī der

aage kā safar saarā bayābāñ kī taraf thā

do rāste the ek jagah rāz-e-jahāñ meñ

ik ghar kī taraf dūsrā zindāñ kī taraf thā

kuchh paḌ sā gayā dīda-e-mushtāq meñ us vaqt

jab garm-e-tamāshā kisī maidāñ kī taraf thā

taare ki utar aa.e the ik dasht-e-balā meñ

mahtāb kisī qarya-e-vīrāñ kī taraf thā

baiThā thā kahīñ husn-e-numā.ish-gah-e-ġham meñ

ruj.hān zarā shohrat-e-arzāñ kī taraf thā

ye kaise huā kyuuñ maiñ nikal aayā sar-e-rāh

jaanā to mujhe kūcha-e-jānāñ kī taraf thā

mahfil meñ vo kartā rahā ik chor se hushiyār

aur us kā ishāra mire mehmāñ kī taraf thā

āsār the āñdhī meñ baḌī chup sī fazā meñ

ruḳh vaqt ke dhāre kā bhī tūfāñ kī taraf thā

vo qāfila-e-gul ke guzar jaane kī ḳhabar thī

uḌtā huā jo rañg gulistāñ kī taraf thā

ik haath thā duniyā kā mirī jeb pe 'shāhīñ'

jo dūsrā thā mere garebāñ kī taraf thā

nazzara ajab us ke gareban ki taraf tha

har aankh ka ruKH sina-e-uryan ki taraf tha

main dekh raha tha kahin jalti hui shamen

aur dhyan mera dud-e-pareshan ki taraf tha

main leTa raha ghas pe sae mein baDi der

aage ka safar sara bayaban ki taraf tha

do raste the ek jagah raaz-e-jahan mein

ek ghar ki taraf dusra zindan ki taraf tha

kuchh paD sa gaya dida-e-mushtaq mein us waqt

jab garm-e-tamasha kisi maidan ki taraf tha

tare ki utar aae the ek dasht-e-bala mein

mahtab kisi qarya-e-viran ki taraf tha

baiTha tha kahin husn-e-numaish-gah-e-gham mein

rujhan zara shohrat-e-arzan ki taraf tha

ye kaise hua kyun main nikal aaya sar-e-rah

jaana to mujhe kucha-e-jaanan ki taraf tha

mahfil mein wo karta raha ek chor se hushiyar

aur us ka ishaara mere mehman ki taraf tha

aasar the aandhi mein baDi chup si faza mein

ruKH waqt ke dhaare ka bhi tufan ki taraf tha

wo qafila-e-gul ke guzar jaane ki KHabar thi

uDta hua jo rang gulistan ki taraf tha

ek hath tha duniya ka meri jeb pe 'shahin'

jo dusra tha mere gareban ki taraf tha