KHwab-mahal mein kaun sar-e-sham aa kar patthar marta hai

ḳhvāb-mahal meñ kaun sar-e-shām aa kar patthar mārtā hai

roz ik taaza kāñch kā bartan haath se gir kar TūTtā hai

makḌī ne darvāze pe jaale duur talak bun rakkhe haiñ

phir bhī koī guzre dinoñ kī oT se andar jhāñktā hai

shor sā uThtā rahtā hai dīvāreñ boltī rahtī haiñ

shaam abhī tak aa nahīñ paatī koī khilaune toḌtā hai

avval-e-shab kī lorī bhī kab kaam kisī ke aatī hai

dil vo bachcha apnī sadā par kachchī niind se jāgtā hai

andar bāhar kī āvāzeñ ik nuqte par simTī haiñ

hotā hai galiyoñ meñ vāvailā merā lahū jab boltā hai

merī sāñsoñ kī larzish manzar kā hissa bantī hai

dekhtā huuñ maiñ khiḌkī se jab shāḳh pe pattā kāñptā hai

mere sirhāne koī baiThā Dhāras detā rahtā hai

nabz pe haath bhī rakhtā hai TuuTe dhāge bhī joḌtā hai

bādal uTThe yā ki na uTThe bārish bhī ho yā ki na ho

maiñ jab bhīgne lagtā huuñ vo sar par chhatrī tāntā hai

vaqt guzarne ke ham-rāh bahut kuchh sīkhā 'aḳhtar' ne

nañge badan ko kirnoñ ke pairāhan se ab Dhāñptā hai

KHwab-mahal mein kaun sar-e-sham aa kar patthar marta hai

roz ek taza kanch ka bartan hath se gir kar TuTta hai

makDi ne darwaze pe jale dur talak bun rakkhe hain

phir bhi koi guzre dinon ki oT se andar jhankta hai

shor sa uThta rahta hai diwaren bolti rahti hain

sham abhi tak aa nahin pati koi khilaune toDta hai

awwal-e-shab ki lori bhi kab kaam kisi ke aati hai

dil wo bachcha apni sada par kachchi nind se jagta hai

andar bahar ki aawazen ek nuqte par simTi hain

hota hai galiyon mein wawaila mera lahu jab bolta hai

meri sanson ki larzish manzar ka hissa banti hai

dekhta hun main khiDki se jab shaKH pe patta kanpta hai

mere sirhane koi baiTha Dhaaras deta rahta hai

nabz pe hath bhi rakhta hai TuTe dhage bhi joDta hai

baadal uTThe ya ki na uTThe barish bhi ho ya ki na ho

main jab bhigne lagta hun wo sar par chhatri tanta hai

waqt guzarne ke ham-rah bahut kuchh sikha 'aKHtar' ne

nange badan ko kirnon ke pairahan se ab Dhanpta hai