gae zamane ki surat badan churae wo
nai ruton ki tarah se bhi muskurae wo

hazar meri nafi bhi kare wo mera hai
ki mere hone ka ehsas bhi dilae wo

har ek shakhs yahan apne dil ka malik hai
main lakh us ko bulaun magar na aae wo

hawa ki aahaten sunta hun dhadkanon ki tarah
misal-e-shama mujhe raat-bhar jagae wo

mere badan ko lahu-rang pairahan bhi de
meri qaba se mere zakhm bhi chhupae wo

meri ragon ka lahu bint-e-am se milta hai
main apna aap bhi dekhun to yaad aae wo

tamam raat guzari hai kirchiyan chunte
sahar hui to naya aaina dikhae wo

mera wajud kitabon mein harf harf hua
khuda kare meri aawaz ban ke aae wo

wo ek shoala-e-jawwala jo chhue jal jae
magar khud apne hi sae se khauf khae wo

ye kya ki mujh ko chhupaya hai meri nazron se
kabhi to mujh ko mere samne bhi lae wo

main apne aap se nikla to samne wo tha
aur ab ye soch raha hun kahin ko jae wo

palat chuka hun waraq zindagi ke ai 'akhtar'
harim-e-shab mein dabe panw phir bhi aae wo