apna saaya bhi na ham-rah safar men rakhna
puḳhta saḌken hi faqat rahguzar men rakhna
ghair-mahfuz samajh kar na ghanim aa jaae
dosto! main na sahi ḳhud ko nazar men rakhna
kahin aisa na ho main hadd-e-ḳhabar se guzrun
koi aalam ho mujhe apni ḳhabar men rakhna
aaina TuuT ke bikhre to kai aks mile
ab hathauḌa hi kaf-e-aina-gar men rakhna
mashghale kibr-sini men vahi bachpan vaale
kabhi tasviren kabhi aaine ghar men rakhna
bahte dariyaon ko sahil hi se takte rahna
aur jalte hue ghar dida-e-tar men rakhna
koi to aisa ho jo tum ko bachae tum se
koi to apna bahi-ḳhvah safar men rakhna
koi bhi chiiz na rakhna ki ta.aqub men hain log
apni miTTi hi magar dast-e-hunar men rakhna
jangalon men bhi hava se vahi rishta ‘aḳhtar’
shahr men bhi yahi sauda mujhe sar men rakhna