kahkashan ke tanazur mein hum kya hamara sitara hai kya
an-ginat aaftabon ki aqlim mein ek sharara hai kya

kaun samjhe zaban barg-o-ashjar ki dasht-o-kohsar ki
kaun jaane ki is be-karan khamushi mein ishaara hai kya

hum mohabbat ko ek mansab-e-ashiqana samajhte rahe
ye na socha mohabbat ki saudagari mein khasara hai kya

ye tilism-e-tamasha hai sara jahan ek tilism-e-nazar
raushni ka samundar hain aankhen magar aashkara hai kya

wo hai be-misl us ko usi ke hawale se samjha karo
us ke idrak mein dakhl-e-tashbih kya istiara hai kya

ek mitti ke ghar mein jiye umr bhar aur mitti hue
kul jahan yun to 'akbar' hamare liye par hamara hai kya