nafas nafas iztirab mein tha
main halqa-e-sad-itab mein tha

sabhi nazare nazar mein gum the
ki sara manzar hijab mein tha

padha to kuchh bhi na hath aaya
likha bahut kuchh kitab mein tha

lahu ki aahat pe chaunk uttha
wo muddaton jaise khwab mein tha

dilon mein raushan nai kahani
purana qissa kitab mein tha

bas ek hunar tah-ba-tah munawwar
bas ek sukhan intikhab mein tha

main us ki khushbu mein gum tha 'akhtar'
wo mere gham ke hisab mein tha