wo bhi kya din the sukun-e-zindagi dekha na tha

vo bhī kyā din the sukūn-e-zindagī dekhā na thā

dhuup thī sahrā thā ham the duur tak saaya na thā

yā bharī bastī meñ koī us ko paḌh saktā na thā

yā jabīnoñ par koī harf-e-shikan likkhā na thā

ġham kī tārīkī meñ gum thā merā ehsās-e-nazar

dil meñ terī yaad kā sūraj abhī niklā na thā

har kiran kī dhaar garche kund itnī bhī na thī

raat kā patthar kisī sūrat magar kaTtā na thā

ek muddat ho ga.ī thī mujh ko apne ghar meñ band

mere darvāze pe dastak koī bhī detā na thā

gumbad-e-be-dar kī sūrat thī hayāt-e-be-sabāt

maiñ hisār-e-zāt se bāhar kabhī niklā na thā

sab hī āñkhoñ meñ sajā.e phir rahe the ratjage

kyā sabab thā shahr meñ kal shab koī soyā na thā

baa'd muddat jab huā thā aa.ine ke rū-ba-rū

yuuñ lagā thā jaise ye chehra mirā apnā na thā

kyā huā ab dil kī dhaḌkan bhī sadā detī nahīñ

itnā gahrā pahle is bastī meñ sannāTā na thā

kaun paanī meñ utar kar DhūñDhtā 'sajjād' ko

mauj ne us kā fasāna ret par likkhā na thā

wo bhi kya din the sukun-e-zindagi dekha na tha

dhup thi sahra tha hum the dur tak saya na tha

ya bhari basti mein koi us ko paDh sakta na tha

ya jabinon par koi harf-e-shikan likkha na tha

gham ki tariki mein gum tha mera ehsas-e-nazar

dil mein teri yaad ka suraj abhi nikla na tha

har kiran ki dhaar garche kund itni bhi na thi

raat ka patthar kisi surat magar kaTta na tha

ek muddat ho gai thi mujh ko apne ghar mein band

mere darwaze pe dastak koi bhi deta na tha

gumbad-e-be-dar ki surat thi hayat-e-be-sabaat

main hisar-e-zat se bahar kabhi nikla na tha

sab hi aankhon mein sajae phir rahe the ratjage

kya sabab tha shahr mein kal shab koi soya na tha

ba'd muddat jab hua tha aaine ke ru-ba-ru

yun laga tha jaise ye chehra mera apna na tha

kya hua ab dil ki dhaDkan bhi sada deti nahin

itna gahra pahle is basti mein sannaTa na tha

kaun pani mein utar kar DhunDhta 'sajjad' ko

mauj ne us ka fasana ret par likkha na tha