dil-e-mahjur ko taskin ka saman na mila
shahr-e-jaanan mein hamein maskan-e-jaanan na mila

kucha-gardi mein katin shauq ki kitni raaten
phir bhi us sham-e-tamanna ka shabistan na mila

puchhte manzil-e-salma ki khabar hum jis se
wadi-e-najd mein aisa koi insan na mila

yun to har rahguzar par the sitare raqsan
jis ki hasrat thi magar wo mah-e-taban na mila

lala-o-gul the bahut aam chaman mein lekin
dhundte the jise wo sarw-e-khiraman na mila

jis ke pardon se machalti ho wahi nikhat-e-shauq
be-khudi ki qasam aisa koi aiwan na mila

bakht-e-be-dar kahan jalwa-e-dil-dar kahan
khwab mein bhi hamein wo ghuncha-e-khandan na mila

bekasi tishna-labi dard-e-halawat-talabi
chandni-raat mein bhi chashma-e-haiwan na mila

yun to har dar pe hi kahte nazar aae daman
khinchte naz se jis ko wahi daman na mila

kis ke dar par na kiye sajde nigahon ne magar
hae taqdir wo ghaarat-gar-e-iman na mila

kaun se baam ko rah rah ke na dekha lekin
nigah-e-shauq ko wo mah-e-khiraman na mila

dar-e-jaanan pe fida karte dil-o-jaan 'akhtar'
wae bar-haal-e-dil-o-jaan dar-e-jaanan na mila