na jaane qafile poshida kis ghubar mein hain
ki manzilon ke charagh ab tak intizar mein hain

bacha bacha ke guzarna hai daman-e-hasti
sharik-e-khar bhi kuchh jashn-e-nau-bahaar mein hain

kisi jadid talatum ka intizar na ho
suna to hai ki safine abhi qarar mein hain

pukarte hain ki daudo guzar na jae ye daur
charagh bujhte hue se jo rahguzar mein hain

abhi to dur hai manzil ye qafilon ke hujum
abhi to marhala-e-jabr-o-ikhtiyar mein hain

abhi bahaar ne sikhi kahan hai dil-jui
hazar dagh abhi qalb-e-lala-zar mein hain

nikhar nikhar ke jo masmum kar rahe hain faza
kuchh aise phul bhi 'akhtar' nai bahaar mein hain