ek tilismi khel

kaise kaise naam likhe the

vaqt ne māh-o-sāl ke ruḳh par

tūfānoñ ne paalā maarā

saare ho ga.e tittar-bittar

saiqal kar ke rakhnā chāhā

ham ne kuchh nāmoñ ko bachā kar

umr kī maujeñ bahā le ga.iiñ

saare la.al aur saare javāhir

tarz-e-ḳhirām ke phuul khile the

aatī jaatī rāhguzar par

aaj hai sirf ġhubār kā parda

kaisī manzil kaisā manzar

dhajjī dhajjī bikhar rahī hai

tanī huī ehsās kī chādar

kuchh harfoñ kī maddham sī lau

kaañp rahī hai laraz laraz kar

ḳhushbū apnī kho baiThā hai

sab sheroñ kā mushk aur ambar

sūrat apnī badal chuke haiñ

ahd aqīde masjid mimbar

kaise ḳhālī haath khaḌe haiñ

shaah vazīr amiir gadāgar

ujḌī ḳhvāb-o-ḳhayāl kī duniyā

apne gharoñ meñ sab haiñ be-ghar

kyūñ-kar joḌeñ apne TukḌe

haar ga.e haiñ saare rafūgar

ḳhūnī bādal gahre gahre

chhaTe nahīñ haiñ baras baras kar

aur zamīneñ āñkheñ mūñde

mast huī haiñ lahū pī pī kar

ek tilismī khel rachā hai

jaane kaun hai ye jādūgar

kaise kaise nam likhe the

waqt ne mah-o-sal ke ruKH par

tufanon ne pala mara

sare ho gae tittar-bittar

saiqal kar ke rakhna chaha

hum ne kuchh namon ko bacha kar

umr ki maujen baha le gain

sare lal aur sare jawahir

tarz-e-KHiram ke phul khile the

aati jati rahguzar par

aaj hai sirf ghubar ka parda

kaisi manzil kaisa manzar

dhajji dhajji bikhar rahi hai

tani hui ehsas ki chadar

kuchh harfon ki maddham si lau

kanp rahi hai laraz laraz kar

KHushbu apni kho baiTha hai

sab sheron ka mushk aur ambar

surat apni badal chuke hain

ahd aqide masjid mimbar

kaise KHali hath khaDe hain

shah wazir amir gadagar

ujDi KHwab-o-KHayal ki duniya

apne gharon mein sab hain be-ghar

kyun-kar joDen apne TukDe

haar gae hain sare rafugar

KHuni baadal gahre gahre

chhaTe nahin hain baras baras kar

aur zaminen aankhen munde

mast hui hain lahu pi pi kar

ek tilismi khel racha hai

jaane kaun hai ye jadugar