pahle wo qaid-e-marg se mujh ko riha kare
phir ho to bewafai ka be-shak gila kare

ab kashmakash ke bojh ki taqat nahin rahi
ab dil mein koi aas na jage khuda kare

ho shama to batae ki jalte hain kis tarah
jugnu bhi mar gae hon to parwana kya kare

wo hukm de rahe hain magar sochte nahin
kis tarah koi dil ko jigar se juda kare

wo mushtail ki zid ki bhi hai intiha koi
hum muntazir ki aaj magar ibtida kare

andar ka bagh jis ka badal jae dasht mein
wo shakhs tere phul se chehre ko kya kare

khairaat bhi mili na jahan se tamam umr
'akhtar' wahin pe aaj bhi baitha dua kare