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