ek umr bhatakte rahe ghar hi nahin aaya
sahil ki tamanna thi nazar hi nahin aaya

raushan hain jahan sham-e-mohabbat ki qataren
wo kunj-e-kam-asar nazar hi nahin aaya

main jhut ko sachchai ke paikar mein sajata
kya kijiye mujh ko ye hunar hi nahin aaya

wo gumbad-e-be-dar tha ki diwar-e-ana thi
manzar koi bahar ka nazar hi nahin aaya

ek aisa safar bhi mujhe darpesh tha logo
kuchh kaam jahan zad-e-safar hi nahin aaya

baithe rahe palkon ko bichhae sar-e-rahe
wo jaan-e-jahan-gasht idhar hi nahin aaya

ek pal ko jahan baitha hun thak kar kabhi 'akhtar'
raste mein koi aisa shajar hi nahin aaya