rahbar-e-tabl-o-nishan aur zara tez qadam
haan mire azm-e-javan aur zara tez qadam
is andhere se na ghabra ki zara aur aage
hai charaghan ka saman aur zara tez qadam
kahin mayus na hona jo nigahon se abhi
un ki mahfil hai nihan aur zara tez qadam
ye yaqin hai ki pahunch jaenge un tak ik din
chaliye be-vahm-o-guman aur zara tez qadam
bujh na jaaen rah-e-hasti men tamanna ke charagh
ḳhvaja-e-rah-ravan aur zara tez qadam
kis bulandi pe ravan tum ho zamin ke zarro
hain sitare nigaran aur zara tez qadam
mil hi jaega kahin shahr-e-nigaran ‘aḳhtar’
ai parastar-e-butan aur zara tez qadam