dikhate hain jo ye sanam dekhte hain
khuda ki khudai ko hum dekhte hain
ye haiwan hai dast-e-talea pe bhaari
nae jaanwar ka qadam dekhte hain
zan-o-khwesh-o-farzand-o-daulat se chhute
na dekhe koi jo ki hum dekhte hain
shahanshah hum hain dilon par hain hakim
gada tum ko ai zi-hasham dekhte hain
faqat hath kale nahin balki munim
dilon par bhi dagh-e-waram dekhte hain
kahan tak utarti hai sine pe mere
teri tegh-e-abru ka dam dekhte hain
bhagati hai mar-e-siyah go ki hum ko
teri zulf-e-mushkin ka sam dekhte hain
zamin par bhi deta nahin chain hum ko
falak tujh se jaur-o-sitam dekhte hain
dur-e-ashk se mera bharti hai daman
sakhi tujh ko ai chashm-e-nam dekhte hain
na ranj aur na shadi tawassut hai hum ko
ki aish-o-alam bhi baham dekhte hain
kisi mah ne us ko dhoka diya hai
hum 'akhtar' ko kyun pur-alam dekhte hain