phir ye hua ki log darichon se hat gae
lekin wo gard thi ki dar-o-baam at gae

kuchh log jhankne lage diwar-e-shahr se
kuchh log apne khun ke andar simat gae

wo ped to nahin tha ki apni jagah rahe
hum shakh to nahin the magar phir bhi kat gae

pur-haul jangalon mein hawa chikhti phiri
wapas gharon ko kyun na musafir palat gae

itne to raste mein bhi sae nahin mile
jitne ki log aae aur aa kar palat gae

mitti ke in charaghon ki himmat to dekhiye
jo jate jate shab ki safon ko ulat gae

jab hum se apni zat ka patthar na uth saka
'akhtar' hum aaine ke muqabil hi dat gae