kisi ke wada-e-farda par e'tibar to hai
tulu-e-subh-e-qayamat ka intizar to hai

meri jagah na rahi teri bazm mein lekin
teri zaban pe mera zikr-e-nagawar to hai

mata-e-dard ko dil se aziz rakhta hun
ki ye kisi ki mohabbat ki yaadgar to hai

ye aur baat ki iqrar kar saken na kabhi
meri wafa ka magar un ko e'tibar to hai

maqam-e-dil koi manzil na ban saka na sahi
teri nigah-e-mohabbat ki rahguzar to hai

wo zauq-e-did na shauq-e-nazara ab lekin
meri nazar ko abhi un ka intizar to hai

agar nigah-e-karam shewa ab nahin na sahi
meri taraf abhi chashm-e-sitam-shiar to hai

ye aur baat nasib-e-nazar nahin lekin
nafas nafas tere jalwon se ham-kanar to hai

zamana sath nahin de raha to kya 'akhtar'
abhi jilau mein mere bakht-e-sazgar to hai