honTon pe qarz-e-harf-e-vafa umr bhar raha
maqruz tha so chup ki sada umr bhar raha
kuchh darguzar ki un ko bhi aadat na thi kabhi
kuchh main bhi apni zid pe uḌa umr bhar raha
vo tajrabe hue ki mire ḳhuun ki ḳhair ho
yaaro main apne ghar se juda umr bhar raha
mausam ka habs shab ki siyahi fasil-e-shahr
mujrim tha sar jhukae khaḌa umr bhar raha
sub.h o masa ki gardish-e-paiham ke bavajud
main darmiyan-e-sub.h-o-masa umr bhar raha
in barishon men kaun bahe ḳhar-o-ḳhas ke saath
suraj ki le ke sar pe rida umr bhar raha
hathon se oT ki to sabhi ungliyan jalin
phir bhi hava ki zad pe diya umr bhar raha
ik ḳhuun ki ḳhalij mire samne rahi
aur mere pichhe saaya mira umr bhar raha
‘aḳhtar’ ye jangalon men usi ke nishan hain
jo ḳhaar ḳhaar abla-pa umr bhar raha