qarib-e-manzil bhatak rahe hain kisi ko apni khabar nahin hai
khuda hi hafiz hai karwan ka ki rah hai rahbar nahin hai

har ek zarre mein jalwa un ka har ek jalwe mein husn un ka
kahan jhukaen jabin ko aakhir kahan tera sang-e-dar nahin hai

fareb-e-rahzan mein dilkashi hai isi liye itni be-khudi hai
jise samajhte ho rahbar tum wo asl mein rahbar nahin hai

na jaane sehn-e-chaman mein kaisi chamak si rah rah ke ho rahi hai
mere nasheman ke chaar tinko ye barq ki to nazar nahin hai

mere khulus-e-wafa ki manzil har ek manzil se mukhtalif hai
rah-e-talab mein chala hun tanha mera koi ham-safar nahin hai

sharab-khane mein jam-e-mai ka surur to mukhtasar tha lekin
jo chashm-e-saqi ne bakhsh di hai wo be-khudi mukhtasar nahin hai

jise na bahka saki kabhi bhi kisi ki aankhon ki dilkashi bhi
use bas ek ghunt hi mein 'akhtar' kuchh aaj apni khabar nahin hai