mere chaaron taraf ye sazish-e-tasKHir kaisi hai

mire chāroñ taraf ye sāzish-e-tasḳhīr kaisī hai

laraztā rahtā huuñ yā rab tirī tāmīr kaisī hai

kabhī to pūchhtī mujh se sabab merī udāsī kā

hamesha hañstī rahtī hai tirī tasvīr kaisī hai

agar us ke karam kī dhuup se mahrūm rahtā huuñ

to phir ye ḳhāna-e-dil meñ mire tanvīr kaisī hai

ham apne aap meñ āzād haiñ lekin ḳhudāvandā

hamāre dast-o-pā meñ vaqt kī zanjīr kaisī hai

bachātā hai mujhe tiir o sināñ se kaun roz o shab

jo mujh ko kāTtī rahtī hai vo shamshīr kaisī hai

ḳhalāoñ meñ munavvar chaar jānib aks hai kis kā

jo sat.h-e-āb par raushan hai vo tasvīr kaisī hai

agar tujh se mirī āvārgī dekhī nahīñ jaatī

to phir pāmāl karne meñ mujhe tāḳhīr kaisī hai

Thahartā hī nahīñ 'aḳhtar' koī lamha masarrat kā

guzartī hī nahīñ ye sā.at-e-dil-gīr kaisī hai

mere chaaron taraf ye sazish-e-tasKHir kaisi hai

larazta rahta hun ya rab teri tamir kaisi hai

kabhi to puchhti mujh se sabab meri udasi ka

hamesha hansti rahti hai teri taswir kaisi hai

agar us ke karam ki dhup se mahrum rahta hun

to phir ye KHana-e-dil mein mere tanwir kaisi hai

hum apne aap mein aazad hain lekin KHudawanda

hamare dast-o-pa mein waqt ki zanjir kaisi hai

bachata hai mujhe tir o sinan se kaun roz o shab

jo mujh ko kaTti rahti hai wo shamshir kaisi hai

KHalaon mein munawwar chaar jaanib aks hai kis ka

jo sath-e-ab par raushan hai wo taswir kaisi hai

agar tujh se meri aawargi dekhi nahin jati

to phir pamal karne mein mujhe taKHir kaisi hai

Thaharta hi nahin 'aKHtar' koi lamha masarrat ka

guzarti hi nahin ye saat-e-dil-gir kaisi hai