tishnagi apni bujhane ke liye jab gae hain
dasht bechaare samundar ke tale dab gae hain

kuch karne ki ghadi hai magar ai ham-safro
hum udhar ja nahin sakte jidhar sab gae hain

ghair shaista-e-adab-e-mohabbat na sahi
hum tere hijr ke aazar mein mar kab gae hain

ab koi aks hai salim na kisi ka chehra
aaina-khane mein kya dekhne sahab gae hain

koi rasta na mila ghar se nikal kar hum ko
hum usi ku-e-malamat ko gae jab gae hain

teri auqat hi kya 'midhat-ul-akhtar' sun le
shahr ke shahr zaminon ke tale dab gae hain