shahr-e-tamanna soya hua tha
dard ka sahra jag raha tha

kaise bataun dar kaisa tha
khun badan ka jamne laga tha

dil mein jo aai sab ne kaha tha
aankhon se kis ne dekha tha

logon ki pahchan thi mushkil
chehre sa gardan pe kya tha

duniya mere pichhe padi thi
main duniya se bhag raha tha

log tamasha dekh rahe the
dariya mein kuchh dub raha tha

khud se bhi bezar hai 'akhtar'
kal tak jo hansta rahta tha