mere chaaron taraf ye sazish-e-taskhir kaisi hai
larazta rahta hun ya rab teri tamir kaisi hai

kabhi to puchhti mujh se sabab meri udasi ka
hamesha hansti rahti hai teri taswir kaisi hai

agar us ke karam ki dhup se mahrum rahta hun
to phir ye khana-e-dil mein mere tanwir kaisi hai

hum apne aap mein aazad hain lekin khudawanda
hamare dast-o-pa mein waqt ki zanjir kaisi hai

bachata hai mujhe tir o sinan se kaun roz o shab
jo mujh ko katti rahti hai wo shamshir kaisi hai

khalaon mein munawwar chaar jaanib aks hai kis ka
jo sath-e-ab par raushan hai wo taswir kaisi hai

agar tujh se meri aawargi dekhi nahin jati
to phir pamal karne mein mujhe takhir kaisi hai

thaharta hi nahin 'akhtar' koi lamha masarrat ka
guzarti hi nahin ye saat-e-dil-gir kaisi hai