mere lahu mein usne naya rang bhar diya

mere lahū meñ us ne nayā rañg bhar diyā

sūraj kī raushnī ne baḌā kaam kar diyā

hāthoñ pe mere apne lahū kā nishān thā

logoñ ne us ke qatl kā ilzām dhar diyā

gandum kā biij paanī kī chhāgal aur ik charāġh

jab maiñ chalā to us ne ye zād-e-safar diyā

jaagā to māhtāb kī kunjī sirhāne thī

maiñ ḳhvāb meñ thā jab mujhe raushan nagar diyā

us ko to us ke shahr ne kuchh bhī diyā nahīñ

aur us ne phir bhī shahr ko tohfe meñ sar diyā

merā badan to radd-e-amal meñ ḳhamosh thā

merī zabāñ ne zā.iqa-e-ḳhushk-o-tar diyā

vo harf-āshnā hai mujhe ye gumāñ na thā

us ne to sab ko naqsh-ba-dīvār kar diyā

yuuñ bhī to us ne hausla-afzā.ī kī mirī

harf-e-suḳhan ke saath hī zaḳhm-e-hunar diyā

aḳhtar yahī nahīñ ki mujhe bāl-o-par mile

us ne to umr bhar mujhe ehsās-e-par diyā

mere lahu mein us ne naya rang bhar diya

suraj ki raushni ne baDa kaam kar diya

hathon pe mere apne lahu ka nishan tha

logon ne us ke qatl ka ilzam dhar diya

gandum ka bij pani ki chhagal aur ek charagh

jab main chala to us ne ye zad-e-safar diya

jaga to mahtab ki kunji sirhane thi

main KHwab mein tha jab mujhe raushan nagar diya

us ko to us ke shahr ne kuchh bhi diya nahin

aur us ne phir bhi shahr ko tohfe mein sar diya

mera badan to radd-e-amal mein KHamosh tha

meri zaban ne zaiqa-e-KHushk-o-tar diya

wo harf-ashna hai mujhe ye guman na tha

us ne to sab ko naqsh-ba-diwar kar diya

yun bhi to us ne hausla-afzai ki meri

harf-e-suKHan ke sath hi zaKHm-e-hunar diya

aKHtar yahi nahin ki mujhe baal-o-par mile

us ne to umr bhar mujhe ehsas-e-par diya