honTon pe qarz-e-harf-e-wafa umr bhar raha

hoñToñ pe qarz-e-harf-e-vafā umr bhar rahā

maqrūz thā so chup kī sadā umr bhar rahā

kuchh darguzar kī un ko bhī aadat na thī kabhī

kuchh maiñ bhī apnī zid pe uḌā umr bhar rahā

vo tajrabe hue ki mire ḳhuuñ kī ḳhair ho

yaaro maiñ apne ghar se judā umr bhar rahā

mausam kā habs shab kī siyāhī fasīl-e-shahr

mujrim thā sar jhukā.e khaḌā umr bhar rahā

sub.h o masā kī gardish-e-paiham ke bāvajūd

maiñ darmiyān-e-sub.h-o-masā umr bhar rahā

in bārishoñ meñ kaun bahe ḳhār-o-ḳhas ke saath

sūraj kī le ke sar pe ridā umr bhar rahā

hāthoñ se oT kī to sabhī uñgliyāñ jalīñ

phir bhī havā kī zad pe diyā umr bhar rahā

ik ḳhuun kī ḳhalīj mire sāmne rahī

aur mere pīchhe saaya mirā umr bhar rahā

'aḳhtar' ye jañgaloñ meñ usī ke nishān haiñ

jo ḳhaar ḳhaar ābla-pā umr bhar rahā

honTon pe qarz-e-harf-e-wafa umr bhar raha

maqruz tha so chup ki sada umr bhar raha

kuchh darguzar ki un ko bhi aadat na thi kabhi

kuchh main bhi apni zid pe uDa umr bhar raha

wo tajrabe hue ki mere KHun ki KHair ho

yaro main apne ghar se juda umr bhar raha

mausam ka habs shab ki siyahi fasil-e-shahr

mujrim tha sar jhukae khaDa umr bhar raha

subh o masa ki gardish-e-paiham ke bawajud

main darmiyan-e-subh-o-masa umr bhar raha

in barishon mein kaun bahe KHar-o-KHas ke sath

suraj ki le ke sar pe rida umr bhar raha

hathon se oT ki to sabhi ungliyan jalin

phir bhi hawa ki zad pe diya umr bhar raha

ek KHun ki KHalij mere samne rahi

aur mere pichhe saya mera umr bhar raha

'aKHtar' ye jangalon mein usi ke nishan hain

jo KHar KHar aabla-pa umr bhar raha