qisse meri aashufta-nawai ke bahut the
charche teri angusht-numai ke bahut the

duniya ki talab hi se na fursat hui warna
arman tere dar ki gadai ke bahut the

kuchh dil hi na mail hua is rah pe warna
saman to jannat ki kamai ke bahut the

kal shab mere kirdar pe tanqid ki shab thi
kirdar mein pahlu bhi burai ke bahut the

aazar ki khaslat bhi thi logon mein numayan
kuchh shauq bhi is dil ko bhalai ke bahut the

ab sath nahin hai bhi to shikwa nahin 'akhtar'
ehsan bhi mujh par mere bhai ke bahut the