dasht-e-ghurbat hai alalat bhi hai tanhai bhi
aur un sab pe fuzun baadiya-paimai bhi

khwab-e-rahat hai kahan nind bhi aati nahin ab
bas uchat jaane ko aai jo kabhi aai bhi

yaad hai mujh ko wo be-fikri o aaghaz-e-shabab
sukhan-arai bhi thi anjuman-arai bhi

nigah-e-shauq-o-tamanna ki wo dilkash thi kamand
jis se ho jate the ram aahu-e-sahrai bhi

hum sanam-khana jahan karte the apna qaim
phir khade hote the wan hur ke shaidai bhi

ab na wo umr na wo log na wo lail o nahaar
bujh gai taba kabhi josh pe gar aai bhi

ab to shubhe bhi mujhe dew nazar aate hain
us zamane mein pari-zad thi ruswai bhi

kaam ki baat jo kahni ho wo kah lo 'akbar'
dam mein chhin jaegi ye taqat-e-goyai bhi