baja ki dushman-e-jaan shahr-e-jaan ke bahar hai

baja ki dushman-e-jaan shahr-e-jaan ke bahar hai
magar main us ko kahun kya jo ghar ke andar hai
tamam naqsh parindon ki tarah utre hain
ki kaghazon pe khile paniyon ka manzar hai


main ek shakhs jo kumbon mein rah gaya bat kar
main musht-e-khak jo taqsim ho ke be-ghar hai
shajar kata to koi ghonsla kahin na raha
magar ek udta parinda faza ka zewar hai


wo khauf hai ki makin apne apne kamron mein hain
wo haal hai ki bayaban mein wusat-e-dar hai
kahin bhi ped nahin phir bhi patthar aae hain
gali mein koi nahin phir bhi shor-e-mahshar hai


main is wasia jazire mein wahid insan hun
ki mere chaaron taraf dasht ka samundar hai
koi bhi khwab na unchi fasil se utra
magar kiran ke guzarne ko rauzan-e-dar hai


tamam raushaniyan bujh gai hain basti mein
magar wo dip ki jis ka hawaon mein ghar hai
kisi se mujh ko gila kya ki kuchh kahun 'akhtar'
ki meri zat hi khud raste ka patthar hai