For an exposition of this ghazal, see Frances W. Pritchett' A Desertful of Roses
har ek baat pe kahate ho tum ki tu kya hai
tumhin kaho ke ye andaaz-e-guftugu kya hai
na shole men ye karishma na barq men ye ada
koi batao ki vo shokh-e-tund-khu kya hai
ye rashk hai ki vo hota hai ham-sukhan tum se
vagarna khauf-e-bad-amozi-e-adu kya hai
chipak raha hai badan par lahu se pairahan
hamare jaib ko ab hajat-e-rafu kya hai
jala hai jism jahan dil bhi jal gaya hoga
kuredte ho jo ab raakh justuju kya hai
ragon men daudte phirne ke ham nahin qaail
jab aankh hi se na tapka to phir lahu kyaa hai
vo chiiz jis ke liye ham ko ho bahisht aziiz
sivae baada-e-gulfam-e-mushk-bu kya hai
piyun sharab agar khum bhi dekh luun do-chaar
ye shisha o qadah o kuuza o subu kya hai
rahi na taqat-e-guftar aur agar ho bhi
to kis ummid pe kahiye ki aarzu kya hai
hua hai shah ka musahib, phire hai itrata
vagarna shahr men ‘ghalib’ ki aabru kya hai
