aur kya zindagi rah gai

aur kyā zindagī rah ga.ī

ik musalsal kamī rah ga.ī

vaqt phir darmiyāñ aa gayā

baat phir an-kahī rah ga.ī

paas jañgal koī jal gayā

raakh har-sū jamī rah ga.ī

zar kā īñdhan banī fikr-e-nau

shā.irī adh-marī rah ga.ī

maiñ na royā na khul kar hañsā

har nafas tishnagī rah ga.ī

tum na aa.e mirī zindagī

raah taktī huī rah ga.ī

paas dariyā-dilī rakh liyā

laakh tishna-labī rah ga.ī

phir fanā kā payām aa gayā

ek ummīd thī rah ga.ī

aap 'ahmad' kahāñ rah ga.e

aur kahāñ zindagī rah ga.ī

aur kya zindagi rah gai

ek musalsal kami rah gai

waqt phir darmiyan aa gaya

baat phir an-kahi rah gai

pas jangal koi jal gaya

rakh har-su jami rah gai

zar ka indhan bani fikr-e-nau

shairi adh-mari rah gai

main na roya na khul kar hansa

har nafas tishnagi rah gai

tum na aae meri zindagi

rah takti hui rah gai

pas dariya-dili rakh liya

lakh tishna-labi rah gai

phir fana ka payam aa gaya

ek ummid thi rah gai

aap 'ahmad' kahan rah gae

aur kahan zindagi rah gai