paa ba daaman ho rahaa huun bas ki main sahraa navard
— Mirza Ghalib
Paa-ba-daaman ho rahaa huun bas-ki main sahraa-navard
Khaar-e-paa hain jauhar-e-aa.eena-e-zaanoo mujhe
Dekhnaa haalat mire dil kee ham-aaghoshee ke vaqt
Hai nigaah-e-aashnaa teraa sar-e-har-moo mujhe
Huun saraapaa saaz-e-aahang-e-shikaayat kuchh na poochh
Hai yahee behtar ki logon men na chheDe too mujhe
Ham-zabaan aayaa nazar fikr-e-sukhan men too mujhe
Mardumuk hai tootee-e-aa.eena-e-zaanoo mujhe
Yaad-e-mizhgaan men ba-nashtar-e-zaar-e-saudaa-e-khayaal
Chaahiye vaqt-e-tapish yak-dast sad-pahloo mujhe
Khaak-e-fursat bar-sar-e-zauq-e-fanaa ai intizaar
Hai ghubaar-e-sheesha-e-saa.at ram-e-aahoo mujhe
Iztiraab-e-umr be-matlab naheen aakhir ki hai
Justujoo-e-fursat-e-rabt-e-sar-e-zaanoo mujhe
Chaahiye darmaan-e-reesh-e-dil bhee tegh-e-yaar se
Maram-e-zangaar hai vo vasma-e-abroo mujhe
Kasrat-e-jaur-o-sitam se ho gayaa huun be-dimaagh
Khoob-rooyon ne banaayaa 'ghaalib'-e-bad-khoo mujhe
Baa.is-e-vaamaandgee hai umr-e-fursat-joo mujhe
Kar diyaa hai paa-ba-zanjeer-e-ram-e-aahoo mujhe
Fursat-e-aaraam-e-ghash hastee hai bohraan-e-adam
Hai shikast-e-rang-e-imkaan gardish-e-pahloo mujhe
Saaz-e-eemaa-e-fanaa hai aalam-e-peeree 'asad'
Qaamat-e-kham se hai haasil shokhee-e-abroo mujhe