ek ranj ba-pairaya-e-zar kyon nahin jata
kashkol-e-hawas hai to ye bhar kyon nahin jata

wo aaina-ru hai to mera rup dikhae
main us ke muqabil hun sanwar kyon nahin jata

dariya ka talatum to bahut din ki katha hai
lekin mere andar ka bhanwar kyon nahin jata

kahte ho ki ho uswa-e-shabbir pe qaem
darbar mein kyon jate ho sar kyon nahin jata

jab ruh se kahte ho ki labbaik husaina
phir ji se yazidon ka ye dar kyon nahin jata

tum sahib-e-mana ho to timsal pe mat jao
ilzam kabhi aaine par kyon nahin jata

lo sham gai raat hai kabus hai main hun
main subh ka bhula hun to ghar kyon nahin jata

har sang-e-dua mujh ko laga phul se badh kar
jab itni duaen hain to mar kyon nahin jata

'akhtar' teri guftar-e-fusun-kar mein kya hai
jo bhi idhar aata hai udhar kyon nahin jata