kise khabar jab main shahr-e-jaan se guzar raha tha
zamin thi pahlu mein suraj ek kos par raha tha

hawa mein khushbuen meri pahchan ban gai thin
main apni mitti se phul ban kar ubhar raha tha

ajib sargoshiyon ka aalam tha anjuman mein
main sun raha tha zamana tanqid kar raha tha

wo kaisi chhat thi jo mujh ko aawaz de rahi thi
wo kya nagar tha jahan main chup-chap utar raha tha

main dekhta tha ki ungliyon mein diye ki lau hai
main jagta tha ki rang khwabon mein bhar raha tha

ye baat alag hai ki main ne jhanka nahin gali mein
ye sach hai koi sadaen deta guzar raha tha

ye chand be-harf-o-saut khake mera asasa
main jin ko ghazlon ka nam de kar sanwar raha tha

zamana shabnam ke bhes mein aaya aur dua di
main zard-rut mein jab apni bahon mein mar raha tha

mujhe kisi se naqab-zani ka khatar nahin tha
main 'akhtar' apne hi jasad-e-khaki se dar raha tha