sun raha hun be-sada naghma jo main ba-chashm-e-tar
chupke chupke zindagi hansti hai mere haal par

apni sari umr kho kar main ne paya hai tumhein
aao mere gham ke sannato mere nazdik-tar

ek dil tha so hua hai paemal-e-arzu
ab na koi rahnuma hai aur na koi ham-safar

har qadam par puchhta hun panw ke chhaalon se main
ye meri manzil hai ya baqi hai meri rahguzar

kaun hai ye jo mere dil mein hai ab tak mahw-e-khwab
dhundte hain ek muddat se jise sham-o-sahar

band hain waraftagan-e-husn par sab raste
tere dar se main agar utthun to jaunga kidhar

jal raha hai aatish-e-furqat mein lekin zinda hai
kyun liye baitha hai ye ilzam 'akhtar' apne sar