ishq ki rahon pe chalna hai to ruswai na dekh
tujh ko pani mein utarna hai to gahrai na dekh

dekhna ye hai pas-e-parda mulawwis kaun hai
panw mein kis shakhs ne zanjir pahnai na dekh

padh sake to padh hikayat-e-gham-e-waraftgan
dhup mein jhulse hue chehron pe ranai na dekh

khar-zaron se guzar ja tu bila khauf-o-khatar
ai musafir har jagah rasm-e-shanasai na dekh

tujh ko manzil ki talab hai to qadam aage badha
is safar mein ham-safar koi mere bhai na dekh

samne aa guftugu ka hausla rakhta hun main
meri surat par na ja zakhm-e-shanasai na dekh

khud na ban 'akhtar' tamasha is tamasha-gah mein
dekh apne aap ko zarf-e-tamashai na dekh