sair-gah-e-duniya ka hasil-e-tamasha kya
rang-o-nikhat-e-gul par apna tha ijara kya

khel hai mohabbat mein jaan o dil ka sauda kya
dekhiye dikhati hai ab ye zindagi kya kya

jab bhi ji umad aaya ro liye ghadi bhar ko
aansuon ki barish se mausamon ka rishta kya

kab sar-e-nazara tha hum ko bazm-e-alam ka
yun bhi dekh kar tum ko aur dekhna tha kya

dard be-dawa apna bakht na-rasa apna
ai nigah-e-be-parwa tujh se hum ko shikwa kya

be-sawal aankhon se munh chhupa rahe ho kyun
meri chashm-e-hairan mein hai koi taqaza kya

haal hai na mazi hai waqt ka tasalsul hai
raat ka andhera kya subh ka ujala kya

jo hai ji mein kah dije un ke ru-ba-ru 'akhtar'
arz-e-haal ki khatir dhundiye bahana kya