khana-barbaad hue be-dar-o-diwar rahe
phir bhi hum un ki itaat mein giraftar rahe

thokaren kha ke bhi shaista-mizaji na gai
faqa-masti mein bhi hum sahib-e-dastar rahe

apni surat se hirasan hai har ek shakhs yahan
kaun is shahr mein ab aaina-bardar rahe

aate jate hue mausam ko dua dete raho
kam se kam shakh-e-tamanna to samar-dar rahe

dastaken hongi dar-e-dil pe koi aaega
raat bhar hum isi ummid mein bedar rahe

dar-ba-dar phirte rahe khana-ba-doshon ki tarah
zindagi hum teri tahwil mein be-kar rahe

khak kyun udne lagi rah-e-junun mein 'akhtar'
rasan-o-dar ka koi to talabgar rahe