shokh patte lahlahate hain shajar ke
jaise koi ishtihaar apne hunar ke

kitne kachche raste hain is shahar mein
sher jaise ban pade hon be-bahr ke

sau makanen phir kahin todi gain to
ek putla phir kahin aaya ubhar ke

jab karenge guftugu tanhaiyon se
tab banenge ham-safar khud ham-safar ke

pas baitho bhi kabhi kajal lagae
hausle bhi dekh lo meri nazar ke

muflisi se dur thodi hai amiri
fasle hain chand qismat-o-safar ke

gir padin tab dar gain bunden zamin se
hath pakde hi rahi bahti nahr ke

bant le duniya jo tukde ho gae hain
zist-o-hasti ke dil-o-jaan-o-jigar ke

yun qalam ko kaghazon mein gad dena
kya yahi aasar hain tere ghadar ke

apne andhe-pan ke bare mein to socho
khwab 'alakh' kyon dekhte ho tum sahar ke