sham tanhai dhuan uthta barabar dekhte
phir sar-e-shab chand ubharne ka bhi manzar dekhte

jumbish-e-lab mein meri aawaz ki taswir hai
kash wo bhi bolte lafzon ke paikar dekhte

sahilon par sipiyan thin aur hawa ka shor tha
paniyon mein dubte to koi gauhar dekhte

khidkiyon ki ot se andaza ho sakta nahin
shahr ka ahwal tum ghar se nikal kar dekhte

aane walon ke liye darwaze rahte hain khule
jaane wale bhi kabhi mud kar su-e-dar dekhte

barishon mein bhigna jismon ka ujla bankpan
raston ki gard bhi ye log sar par dekhte

wo jinhen dastar ki hasrat rahi hai umr bhar
mere shanon par kabhi 'akhtar' mera sar dekhte