shakhon pe zakhm hain ki shagufe khile hue
ab ke farogh-e-gul ke ajab silsile hue

khurshid ka jamal kise ho saka nasib
taron ke dubte hi rawan qafile hue

apna hi dhyan aur kahin tha nazar kahin
warna the rah mein gul-o-ghunche khile hue

tum mutmain raho ki na dekhen na kuchh kahen
aankhon ke sath sath hain lab bhi sile hue

mana kisi ka dard gham-e-zindagi nahin
phir bhi kisi ke dard se kya kya gile hue

jo sans aa ke mas hue wo manzilen nahin
lamhe jo hum pe bit gae fasle hue

'akhtar' mujhe ye dar hai ki daman na jal uthe
pata hun aansuon mein sharare mile hue