koi bhi shahr mein khul kar na baghal-gir hua
main bhi uktae hue logon se ukta ke mila

din ke kandhe pe dahakte hue suraj ki salib
raat ki god mein thithura hua mahtab mila

kahin ashkon ke diye hain na tabassum ke charagh
log patthar ke hue jate hain rafta rafta

nind palkon ke dariche se lagi baithi hai
sone deta hi nahin garm hawa ka jhonka

wo chahakti hui khidki na mahakte dar-o-baam
un ke kuche mein bhi kal maut ka sannata tha

lakh tahzib ke ghaaron mein chhupe hum 'akhtar'
phir bhi uryaniyat-e-waqt se daman na bacha