Mehfil-e-maikashaaN, kuucha-e-dilbaraaN,
har jagah ho liye ab chaleN dil kahaaN,
(mehfil-e-maikashaaN : gathering of the wine drinkers; kuucha-e-dilbaraaN : house of the beloved)
maslahat chaahtii hai ke manzil mile,
aur dil DhuuNDtaa hai ko’ii kaarvaaN,
(maslahat : expedience)
chaaNdnii bhii merii tarah hairat meN hai,
chhup gayaa ko’ii aavaaz de kar kahaaN,
jaanii-pahchaanii hai har adaa, har nazar,
haaN, magar ye nahiiN yaad dekhaa kahaaN,
raat yuuN Gham ne phir dil meN aavaaz dii,
jaise sehraa kii masjid meN shab kii azaaN,
(azaaN : call for prayers)
gard uR uR ke muNh apnaa dekhaa kare,
rakhii hai raah meN aaiinoN kii dukaaN,
kuch to maiN bhii bahut dil kaa kamzor huuN,
kuch muhabbat bhii hai fitratan bad-gumaaN,
tazkirah ko’ii ho zikr teraa rahaa,
avval-o-aakhirash, darmiyaaN darmiyaaN,
(tazkirah : talk)
jaane kis des se dil meN aa jaate haiN,
chaaNdnii raat meN dard ke kaarvaaN,
darmiyaaN meN na laayeN Khudaa ko bhii ham,
bas vahii vo sune jis kii hai daastaaN,
“Badr” saahab udhar kaa na ruKh keejiye,
Dilli, Lahore haiN shahr-e-jaaduugaraaN