ḳhvahishen itni baḌhin insan aadha rah gaya
ḳhvab jo dekha nahin vo bhi adhura rah gaya
main to us ke saath hi ghar se nikal kar aa gaya
aur pichhe ek dastak ek saaya rah gaya
us ko to pairahanon se koi dilchaspi na thi
dukh to ye hai rafta rafta main bhi nanga rah gaya
rang tasviron ka utra to kahin Thahra nahin
ab ke vo barish hui har naqsh phika rah gaya
umr bhar manzar-nigari ḳhuun men utri rahi
phir bhi ankhon ke muqabil ek dariya rah gaya
raunaqen jitni thiin dahlizon se bahar aa gaiin
shaam hi se ghar ka darvaza khula kya rah gaya
ab ke shahr-e-zindagi men saneha aisa hua
main sada deta use vo mujh ko takta rah gaya
titliyon ke par kitabon men kahin gum ho gae
muTThiyon ke aine men ek chehra rah gaya
rail ki gaaḌi chali to ik musafir ne kaha
dekhna vo koi station pe baiTha rah gaya
main na kahta tha ki ujlat is qadar achchhi nahin
ek paT khiḌki ka aa kar dekh lo va rah gaya
log apni kirchiyan chun chun ke aage baḌh gae
main magar saman ikaTTha karta tanha rah gaya
aaj tak mauj-e-hava to lauT kar aai nahin
kya kisi ujḌe nagar men diip jalta rah gaya
ungliyon ke naqsh gul-danon pe aate hain nazar
aao dekhen apne andar aur kya kya rah gaya
dhuup ki garmi se inTen pak gaiin phal pak gae
ik hamara jism tha ‘aḳhtar’ jo kachcha rah gaya