kaun si uljhan ko suljhate hain ham?

lab bayābāñ, bose be-jāñ

kaun sī uljhan ko suljhāte haiñ ham?

jism kī ye kār-gāheñ

jin kā haizam aap ban jaate haiñ ham!

nīm-shab aur shahr-e-ḳhvāb-ālūdā, ham-sā.e

ki jaise duzd-e-shab-gardāñ koii!

shaam se the hasratoñ ke banda-e-be-dām ham

pī rahe the jaam par har jaam ham

ye samajh kar jur.a-e-pinhāñ koī

shāyad āḳhir ibtidā-e-rāz kā iimā bane!

matlab āsāñ harf be-ma.anī

tabassum ke hisābī zāviye

matn ke sab hāshiye

jin se aish-ḳhām ke naqsh-e-riyā bante rahe!

aur āḳhir buad jismoñ meñ sar-e-mū bhī na thā

jab diloñ ke darmiyāñ haa.il the sañgīñ fāsle

qurb-e-chashm-o-gosh se ham kaun sī uljhan ko suljhāte rahe!

kaun sī uljhan ko suljhāte haiñ ham?

shaam ko jab apnī ġham-gāhoñ se duzdānā nikal aate haiñ ham?

yā zavāl-e-umr kā dev-e-subuk-pā rū-ba-rū

yā anā ke dast o pā ko vus.atoñ kī aarzū

kaun sī uljhan ko suljhāte haiñ ham?

lab bayaban, bose be-jaan

kaun si uljhan ko suljhate hain ham?

jism ki ye kar-gahen

jin ka haizam aap ban jate hain ham!

nim-shab aur shahr-e-KHwab-aluda, ham-sae

ki jaise duzd-e-shab-gardan koi!

sham se the hasraton ke banda-e-be-dam hum

pi rahe the jam par har jam hum

ye samajh kar jura-e-pinhan koi

shayad aaKHir ibtida-e-raaz ka ima bane!

matlab aasan harf be-mani

tabassum ke hisabi zawiye

matn ke sab hashiye

jin se aish-KHam ke naqsh-e-riya bante rahe!

aur aaKHir buad jismon mein sar-e-mu bhi na tha

jab dilon ke darmiyan hail the sangin fasle

qurb-e-chashm-o-gosh se hum kaun si uljhan ko suljhate rahe!

kaun si uljhan ko suljhate hain ham?

sham ko jab apni gham-gahon se duzdana nikal aate hain ham?

ya zawal-e-umr ka dew-e-subuk-pa ru-ba-ru

ya ana ke dast o pa ko wusaton ki aarzu

kaun si uljhan ko suljhate hain ham?