chehre ke ḳhadd-o-ḳhal men aine jaḌe hain
ham umr-e-gurezan ke muqabil men khaḌe hain
har saal naya saal hai har saal gaya saal
ham uḌte hue lamhon ki chaukhaT pe paḌe hain
dekha hai ye parchhain ki duniya men ki aksar
apne qad-o-qamat se bhi kuchh log baḌe hain
shayad ki mile zaat ke zindan se rihai
divar ko chaTa hai havaon se laḌe hain
uḌte hain parinde to yahan jhiil bhi hogi
tapta hai bayaban-e-badan kos kaḌe hain
shayad koi isa-nafas aae unhen puchhe
ye lafz jo be-jan se kaghaz pe paḌe hain
is baat ka mafhum main samjha nahin ‘aḳhtar’
tasvir men sahil pe kai kachche ghaḌe hain