har taraf be-hisab khamoshi
lag rahi hai azab khamoshi

jis ki aadat thi bolte rahna
us pe kyon hai janab khamoshi

hai samaat bhi be-sada apni
aur us ka khitab khamoshi

ab shab-o-roz yun guzarte hain
apna kamra kitab khamoshi

har jagah bolna nahin achchha
har jagah hai kharab khamoshi

ek unwan tha mujhe darkar
kar liya intikhab khamoshi

shorishon ka sabaq liya pahle
ab hai dil ka nisab khamoshi

tum jo chup ho to phir munasib hai
ho mera bhi jawab khamoshi

muztarib tha bahut firaq mein dil
hasil-e-iztirab khamoshi

kitna charcha tha khwab ka 'akhtar'
aur tabir-e-khwab khamoshi