chand uljhi hui sanson ki ata hun kya hun
main charagh-e-tah-e-daman-e-saba hun kya hun

har nafas hai mera parwarda-e-aghosh-e-bala
apne na-karda gunahon ki saza hun kya hun

mujh pe khulta hi nahin mera sitam-dida wajud
koi patthar hun ki gum-karda sada hun kya hun

dil mein hun aur zaban par kabhi aata bhi nahin
main koi bhola hua harf-e-dua hun kya hun

main safar mein hun magar samt-e-safar koi nahin
kya main khud apna hi naqsh-e-kaf-e-pa hun kya hun

main ne dekha hi nahin jagti aankhon se kabhi
koi uqda hun ki khud uqda-kusha hun kya hun

puchhta hai mera pairahan-e-hasti mujh se
main qaba hun ki faqat band-e-qaba hun kya hun

dil ki aur meri zaban ek hai phir bhi 'akhtar'
lafz o mani ki pur-asrar faza hun kya hun