aaj bhi dasht-e-bala mein nahr par pahra raha

aaj bhī dasht-e-balā meñ nahr par pahrā rahā

kitnī sadiyoñ baad maiñ aayā magar pyāsā rahā

kyā fazā-e-sub.h-e-ḳhandāñ kyā savād-e-shām-e-ġham

jis taraf dekhā kiyā maiñ der tak hañstā rahā

ik sulagtā āshiyāñ aur bijliyoñ kī anjuman

pūchhtā kis se ki mere ghar meñ kyā thā kyā rahā

zindagī kyā ek sannāTā thā pichhlī raat kā

sham.eñ gul hotī rahīñ dil se dhuāñ uThtā rahā

qāfile phūloñ ke guzre is taraf se bhī magar

dil kā ik gosha jo suunā thā bahut suunā rahā

terī in hañstī huī āñkhoñ se nisbat thī jise

merī palkoñ par vo aañsū umr bhar Thahrā rahā

ab lahū ban kar mirī āñkhoñ se bah jaane ko hai

haañ vahī dil jo harīf-e-joshish-e-dariyā rahā

kis ko fursat thī ki 'aḳhtar' dekhtā merī taraf

maiñ jahāñ jis bazm meñ jab tak rahā tanhā rahā

aaj bhi dasht-e-bala mein nahr par pahra raha

kitni sadiyon baad main aaya magar pyasa raha

kya faza-e-subh-e-KHandan kya sawad-e-sham-e-gham

jis taraf dekha kiya main der tak hansta raha

ek sulagta aashiyan aur bijliyon ki anjuman

puchhta kis se ki mere ghar mein kya tha kya raha

zindagi kya ek sannaTa tha pichhli raat ka

shamen gul hoti rahin dil se dhuan uThta raha

qafile phulon ke guzre is taraf se bhi magar

dil ka ek gosha jo suna tha bahut suna raha

teri in hansti hui aankhon se nisbat thi jise

meri palkon par wo aansu umr bhar Thahra raha

ab lahu ban kar meri aankhon se bah jaane ko hai

han wahi dil jo harif-e-joshish-e-dariya raha

kis ko fursat thi ki 'aKHtar' dekhta meri taraf

main jahan jis bazm mein jab tak raha tanha raha