han yahi shahr mere khwabon ka gahwara tha
inhi galiyon mein kahin mera sanam-khana tha

isi dharti pe the aabaad saman-zar mere
isi basti mein meri ruh ka sarmaya tha

thi yahi aab-o-hawa nashw-o-numa ki zamin
isi mitti se mere fan ka khamir uttha tha

ab na diwaron se nisbat hai na baam-o-dar se
kya isi ghar se kabhi mera koi rishta tha

zakhm yaadon ke sulagte hain meri aankhon mein
khwab in aankhon ne kya jaaniye kya dekha tha

mehrban raat ke sae the munawwar aise
ashk aankhon mein liye dil ye sarasima tha

ajnabi lagte the sab kucha o bazar 'akbar'
ghaur se dekha to wo shahr mera apna tha