tufan-e-abr-o-baad se har-su nami bhi hai
pedon ke tutne ka saman didani bhi hai

arzan hai apne shahr mein pani ki tarah khun
warna wafa ka khun bada qimti bhi hai

yaro shaguft-e-gul ki sada par chale chalo
dasht-e-junun ke mod pe kuchh raushni bhi hai

tute hue makan hain magar chand se makin
is shahr-e-arzu mein ek aisi gali bhi hai

begana-war guzri chali ja rahi hai zist
mud mud ke doston ki tarah dekhti bhi hai

'akhtar' guzarte lamhon ki aahat pe yun na chaunk
is matami julus mein ek zindagi bhi hai