kya puchhte ho mujh se ki main kis nagar ka tha
jalta hua charagh meri rah-guzar ka tha

hum jab safar pe nikle the taron ki chhanw thi
phir apne ham-rikab ujala sahar ka tha

sahil ki gili ret ne bakhsha tha pairahan
jaise samundaron ka safar chashm-e-tar ka tha

chehre pe udti gard thi baalon mein rakh thi
shayad wo ham-safar mere ujde nagar ka tha

kya chikhti hawaon se ahwal puchhta
saya hi yaadgar mere ham-safar ka tha

yaksaniyat thi kitni hamare wajud mein
apna jo haal tha wahi aalam bhanwar ka tha

wo kaun tha jo le ke mujhe ghar se chal pada
surat khizar ki thi na wo chehra khizar ka tha

dahliz par kar na sake aur laut aae
shayad musafiron ko khatar baam-o-dar ka tha

kachche makan jitne the barish mein bah gae
warna jo mera dukh tha wo dukh umr bhar ka tha

main us gali se kaise guzarta jhuka ke sar
aakhir ko ye muamla bhi sang-o-sar ka tha

logon ne khud hi kat diye raston ke ped
'akhtar' badalti rut mein ye hasil nazar ka tha