apna saya bhi na ham-rah safar mein rakhna
pukhta sadken hi faqat rahguzar mein rakhna

ghair-mahfuz samajh kar na ghanim aa jae
dosto! main na sahi khud ko nazar mein rakhna

kahin aisa na ho main hadd-e-khabar se guzrun
koi aalam ho mujhe apni khabar mein rakhna

aaina tut ke bikhre to kai aks mile
ab hathauda hi kaf-e-aina-gar mein rakhna

mashghale kibr-sini mein wahi bachpan wale
kabhi taswiren kabhi aaine ghar mein rakhna

bahte dariyaon ko sahil hi se takte rahna
aur jalte hue ghar dida-e-tar mein rakhna

koi to aisa ho jo tum ko bachae tum se
koi to apna bahi-khwah safar mein rakhna

koi bhi chiz na rakhna ki taaqub mein hain log
apni mitti hi magar dast-e-hunar mein rakhna

jangalon mein bhi hawa se wahi rishta 'akhtar'
shahr mein bhi yahi sauda mujhe sar mein rakhna