ye jo hum atlas o kim-khwab liye phirte hain
azmat-e-rafta ke aadab liye phirte hain

dekh kar un ko laraz jati hai har mauj-e-bala
apni kashti mein jo girdab liye phirte hain

tir kitne hain lain aur tere tarkash mein
dekh hum sina-e-be-tab liye phirte hain

dekhna un ko bhi das legi kade waqt ki dhup
wo jo kuchh khwahish-e-shadab liye phirte hain

apni tahzib ka ab koi talabgar nahin
be-sabab hum par-e-surkhab liye phirte hain

mera bhi kasa-e-tabir hai khali khali
wo bhi aankhon mein kai khwab liye phirte hain

tirgi shahr-e-ghazalan se nikalti hi nahin
lakh wo surat-e-mahtab liye phirte hain

ye to sadqa hai husain-ibn-e-ali ka 'akhtar'
tishnagi hum jo sar-e-ab liye phirte hain