jaan-sapari ke bhi arman zindagi ki aas bhi
hifz-e-namus-e-alam bhi nish-e-gham ka pas bhi

khak dar-bar hi sahi main khak bhi wo khak hai
jis mein mere zakhm-e-dil ki bu bhi hai aur bas bhi

kitne daur-e-charkh un aankhon ne dekhe kuchh na puchh
mit chuka hai waqt ki raftar ka ehsas bhi

hae wo ek nashtar-agin neshtar-afroz yaad
jis ke aage hech apni burrish-e-infas bhi

hum na the kuchh khud hi us saude pe raazi warna yun
ras aane ko ye duniya aa hi jati ras bhi

khud ko ai dil yas-e-kaamil ke hawale yun na kar
jhankti hai zehn ke ghurfe se koi aas bhi

kaun us wadi se uchhla ta-sar-e-arsh-e-barin
gum hain jis wadi mein 'akhtar' khizr bhi ilyas bhi