ḳhvab-mahal men kaun sar-e-sham aa kar patthar marta hai
roz ik taaza kanch ka bartan haath se gir kar TuTta hai
makḌi ne darvaze pe jaale duur talak bun rakkhe hain
phir bhi koi guzre dinon ki oT se andar jhankta hai
shor sa uThta rahta hai divaren bolti rahti hain
shaam abhi tak aa nahin paati koi khilaune toḌta hai
avval-e-shab ki lori bhi kab kaam kisi ke aati hai
dil vo bacha apni sada par kachchi niind se jagta hai
andar bahar ki avazen ik nuqte par simTi hain
hota hai galiyon men vavela mera lahu jab bolta hai
meri sanson ki larzish manzar ka hissa banti hai
dekhta huun main khiḌki se jab shaḳh pe patta kanpta hai
mere sirhane koi baiTha dharas deta rahta hai
nabz pe haath bhi rakhta hai TuuTe dhage bhi joḌta hai
badal uThe ya ki na uThe barish bhi ho ya ki na ho
main jab bhigne lagta huun vo sar par chhatri tanta hai
vaqt guzarne ke ham-rah bahut kuchh sikha ‘aḳhtar’ ne
nange badan ko kirnon ke pairahan se ab dhanpta hai