kise ḳhabar jab main shahr-e-jan se guzar raha tha
zamin thi pahlu men suraj ik kos par raha tha
hava men ḳhushbuen meri pahchan ban gai thiin
main apni miTTi se phuul ban kar ubhar raha tha
ajiib sargoshiyon ka aalam tha anjuman men
main sun raha tha zamana tanqid kar raha tha
vo kaisi chhat thi jo mujh ko avaz de rahi thi
vo kya nagar tha jahan main chup-chap utar raha tha
main dekhta tha ki ungliyon men diye ki lau hai
main jagta tha ki rang ḳhvabon men bhar raha tha
ye baat alag hai ki main ne jhanka nahin gali men
ye sach hai koi sadaen deta guzar raha tha
ye chand be-harf-o-saut ḳhake mira asasa
main jin ko ghazlon ka naam de kar sanvar raha tha
zamana shabnam ke bhes men aaya aur dua di
main zard-rut men jab apni bahon men mar raha tha
mujhe kisi se naqab-zani ka ḳhatar nahin tha
main ‘aḳhtar’ apne hi jasad-e-ḳhaki se dar raha tha