shahr ka shahr jala aur ujala na hua

shahr ka shahr jala aur ujala na hua
saneha kya ye muqaddar ka nirala na hua
hai faqat nam ko aazadi-e-izhaar-e-khayal
warna kab kis ke labon par yahan tala na hua


tutte shishe ko dekha hai zamane bhar ne
dil ke tukdon ka koi dekhne wala na hua
jis ne parkha unhen wo thi koi be-jaan machine
dil ke zakhmon ka bashar dekhne wala na hua


kis qadar yas-zada hai ye hisar-e-zulmat
dil jalae bhi to har samt ujala na hua
dasht-e-ghurbat ke safar ki ye aziyyat-naki
khushk talwon ka abhi ek bhi chhaala na hua


zabt ka had se guzar jaana yahi hai 'akhtar'
dil sulagta hai magar honton pe nala na hua