sada kuchh aisi mere gosh-e-dil mein aati hai
koi bina-e-kuhan jaise ladkhadati hai

racha hua hai fazaon mein ek athah hiras
dimagh shal hai magar ruh sansanati hai

mujhe yaqin hai aandhi koi uthi hai kahin
ki lau charagh-e-shabistan ki thartharaati hai

umid yas ke gahre khamosh jangal mein
hawa-e-sham ki manind sarsaraati hai

sawal hai gham-e-hasti ke bit jaane ka
ye zindagi to bahar-haal bit jati hai

khayal-e-umr-e-guzishta zara tawaqquf kar
zamin qadmon ke niche se nikli jati hai

main apni aag mein jal kar kabhi ka khak hua
ye zindagi mujhe kya khak mein milati hai

nishana-baz falak tere nawakon ki khair
ki jin ki zad pe mere hauslon ki chhati hai

lachak hi jati hai shakh apne aashiyan ki bhi
chaman mein gati hui jab bahaar aati hai

fughan-e-dard labon par na aaiyo zinhaar
meri saliqa-shiari pe baat aati hai

idhar ye girya-e-abr aur udhar wo khanda-e-barq
mizaj-e-dahr mere dost tanziyati hai

rahin-e-rasm-o-riwayat ho jis ki but-shikani
wo but-shikan bhi haqiqat mein somnati hai

bapa hai shor-e-qayamat dimagh mein 'akhtar'
zaban-e-khama magar zamzame lutati hai