phir ye hua ki log darichon se haT gae
lekin vo gard thi ki dar-o-bam aT gae
kuchh log jhankne lage divar-e-shahr se
kuchh log apne ḳhuun ke andar simaT gae
vo peḌ to nahin tha ki apni jagah rahe
ham shaḳh to nahin the magar phir bhi kaT gae
pur-haul jangalon men hava chiḳhti phiri
vapas gharon ko kyuun na musafir palaT gae
itne to raste men bhi saae nahin mile
jitne ki log aae aur aa kar palaT gae
miTTi ke in charaghon ki himmat to dekhiye
jo jaate jaate shab ki safon ko ulaT gae
jab ham se apni zaat ka patthar na uTh saka
‘aḳhtar’ ham aaine ke muqabil hi daT gae