Mail-e-lutf hai aamada-e-be-dad bhi hai

mail-e-lutf hai aamada-e-be-dad bhi hai
wo sarapa-e-mohabbat sitam-ijad bhi hai

shab-e-tanhai bhi hai sath teri yaad bhi hai
dil ka kya haal kahun shad bhi nashad bhi hai

daulat-e-gham se har ek gosha hai is ka mamur
dil ki duniya meri aabaad bhi barbaad bhi hai

be-sabab to nahin ehsas KHalish ka mujh ko
bhulne wale tere dil mein meri yaad bhi hai

kyun na aasan ho rah-e-ishq ki mere ham-rah
jazba-e-'qais' bhi hai himmat-e-'farhad' bhi hai

jal gaya apna nasheman magar afsos ye hai
phunkne walon mein ek barq-e-chaman-zad bhi hai

mera wijdan muharrik hai mere naghmon ka
tab-e-mauzun meri paband bhi aazad bhi hai

kya bataun main tumhein kya hai nawa-e-'aKHtar'
naghme ka naghma hai fariyaad ki fariyaad bhi hai