wo jo diwar-e-ashnai thi
apni hi zat ki ikai thi

main sar-e-dasht-e-jaan tha aawara
aur ghar mein bahaar aai thi

maile kapdon ka apna rang bhi tha
phir bhi qismat mein jag-hansai thi

ab to aankhon mein apna chehra hai
kabhi shishe se aashnai thi

apni hi zat mein tha main mahfuz
aur phir khud hi se ladai thi

apni aawaz se bhi darta tha
hae kya chiz aashnai thi

zindagi gard gard thi 'akhtar'
jaane lut kar kahan se aai thi