maal-e-gardish-e-lail-o-nahaar kuchh bhi nahin
hazar naqsh hain aur aashkar kuchh bhi nahin

har ek mod pe duniya ko hum ne dekh liya
siwae kashmakash-e-rozgar kuchh bhi nahin

nishan-e-rah mile bhi yahan to kaise mile
siwae khak-e-sar-e-rahguzar kuchh bhi nahin

bahut qarib rahi hai ye zindagi hum se
bahut aziz sahi e'tibar kuchh bhi nahin

na ban pada ki gareban ke chaak si lete
shuur ho ki junun ikhtiyar kuchh bhi nahin

khile jo phul wo dast-e-khizan ne chhin liye
nasib-e-daman-e-fasl-e-bahaar kuchh bhi nahin

zamana ishq ke maron ko mat kya dega
dilon ke khel mein ye jit haar kuchh bhi nahin

ye mera shahr hai main kaise man lun 'akhtar'
na rasm-o-rah na wo ku-e-yar kuchh bhi nahin