tilism-e-gumbad-e-be-dar kisi pe wa na hua
sharar to lapka magar shola-e-sada na hua

hamein zamane ne kya kya na aaine dikhlae
magar wo aks jo aaina-ashna na hua

bayaz-e-jaan mein sabhi sher khub-surat the
kisi bhi misra-e-rangin ka hashiya na hua

na jaane log thaharte hain waqt-e-sham kahan
hamein to ghar mein bhi rukne ka hausla na hua

wo shahr aaj bhi mere lahu mein shamil hai
wo jis se tark-e-talluq ko ek zamana hua

yahi nahin ki sar-e-shab qayamaten tutin
sahar ke waqt bhi in bastiyon mein kya na hua

main dasht-e-jaan mein bhatak kar thahar gaya 'akhtar'
phir is ke baad mera koi rasta na hua