kisi ke waste jita hai ab na marta hai
har aadmi yahan apna tawaf karta hai

sab apni apni nigahen samet lete hain
wo khush-libas sar-e-sham jab bikharta hai

main jis ki rah mein har shab diye jalata hun
wo mahtab zamin par kahan utarta hai

hamara dil bhi hai viran haweliyon ki tarah
tamam raat yahan koi aah bharta hai

main us ke naqsh-e-kaf-e-pa bhi chhu nahin sakta
wo tez-gam hawaon ke par katarta hai

na baam-e-arzu raushan na saeban-e-talab
sara-e-dil mein kahan koi ab thaharta hai

sab apne aap se khaif hain in dinon 'akhtar'
har ek shakhs yahan aaine se darta hai