qadmon se itna dur kinara kabhi na tha

qadmoñ se itnā duur kināra kabhī na thā

nā-qābil-e-ubūr ye dariyā kabhī na thā

tum-sā hasīñ in āñkhoñ ne dekhā kabhī na thā

lekin ye sach nahīñ koī tum-sā kabhī na thā

hai zikr-e-yār kyuuñ shab-e-zindāñ se duur duur

ai ham-nashīñ ye tarz ġhazal kā kabhī na thā

kamre meñ dil ke us ke ’alāva koī nahīñ

hairān huuñ ki aisā añdherā kabhī na thā

kis ne bisāt-e-bahs ke mohre badal diye

tanhā to thā vo pahle bhī gūñgā kabhī na thā

imroz-e-intizār kā fardā to kal bhī hai

andoh-e-imshabī kā saverā kabhī na thā

har zehn meñ hamesha sulagtā hai ye savāl

āḳhir huā vo kyuuñ jise honā kabhī na thā

dīvāna thā bhaTak gayā gum ho gayā hai qais

ḳhālī magar kajāva-e-lailā kabhī na thā

kal bhī uisī dayār meñ thā raushnī kā qaht

aisā magar charāġh kā dhandā kabhī na thā

pighlī kuchh aur barf to ik aur shahr-e-ḳhvāb

yuuñ bah gayā nasheb meñ goyā kabhī na thā

barsā hai kis babūl pe abr-e-bahār-ḳhez

itnā harā to zaḳhm-e-tamannā kabhī na thā

us ne bhī iltifāt se dekhā thā kab 'ḳhalish'

maiñ ne bhī us ke baare meñ sochā kabhī na thā

qadmon se itna dur kinara kabhi na tha

na-qabil-e-ubur ye dariya kabhi na tha

tum-sa hasin in aankhon ne dekha kabhi na tha

lekin ye sach nahin koi tum-sa kabhi na tha

hai zikr-e-yar kyun shab-e-zindan se dur dur

ai ham-nashin ye tarz ghazal ka kabhi na tha

kamre mein dil ke us ke ’alawa koi nahin

hairan hun ki aisa andhera kabhi na tha

kis ne bisat-e-bahs ke mohre badal diye

tanha to tha wo pahle bhi gunga kabhi na tha

imroz-e-intizar ka farda to kal bhi hai

andoh-e-imshabi ka sawera kabhi na tha

har zehn mein hamesha sulagta hai ye sawal

aaKHir hua wo kyun jise hona kabhi na tha

diwana tha bhaTak gaya gum ho gaya hai qais

KHali magar kajawa-e-laila kabhi na tha

kal bhi uisi dayar mein tha raushni ka qaht

aisa magar charagh ka dhanda kabhi na tha

pighli kuchh aur barf to ek aur shahr-e-KHwab

yun bah gaya nasheb mein goya kabhi na tha

barsa hai kis babul pe abr-e-bahaar-KHez

itna hara to zaKHm-e-tamanna kabhi na tha

us ne bhi iltifat se dekha tha kab 'KHalish'

main ne bhi us ke bare mein socha kabhi na tha