kuchh to tanhai ki raaton mein sahaara hota
tum na hote na sahi zikr tumhaara hota

tark-e-duniya ka ye dawa hai fuzul ai zahid
bar-e-hasti to zara sar se utara hota

wo agar aa na sake maut hi aai hoti
hijr mein koi to gham-khwar hamara hota

zindagi kitni masarrat se guzarti ya rab
aish ki tarah agar gham bhi gawara hota

azmat-e-girya ko kotah-nazar kya samjhen
ashk agar ashk na hota to sitara hota

lab-e-zahid pe hai afsana-e-hur-e-jannat
kash is waqt mera anjuman-ara hota

gham-e-ulfat jo na milta gham-e-hasti milta
kisi surat to zamane mein guzara hota

kis ko fursat thi zamane ke sitam sahne ki
gar na us shokh ki aankhon ka ishaara hota

koi hamdard zamane mein na paya 'akhtar'
dil ko hasrat hi rahi koi hamara hota