muddat se lapata hai KHuda jaane kya hua

muddat se lāpata hai ḳhudā jaane kyā huā

phirtā thā ek shaḳhs tumheñ pūchhtā huā

vo zindagī thī aap the yā koī ḳhvāb thā

jo kuchh thā ek lamhe ko bas sāmnā huā

ham ne tire baġhair bhī jī kar dikhā diyā

ab ye savāl kyā hai ki phir dil kā kyā huā

so bhī vo tū na dekh sakī ai havā-e-dahr

siine meñ ik charāġh rakhā thā jalā huā

duniyā ko zid numā.ish-e-zaḳhm-e-jigar se thī

fariyād maiñ ne kī na zamāna ḳhafā huā

har anjuman meñ dhyān usī anjuman kā hai

jaagā ho jaise ḳhvāb koī dekhtā huā

shāyad chaman meñ jī na lage lauT aa.uuñ maiñ

sayyād rakh qafas kā abhī dar khulā huā

ye iztirāb-e-shauq hai 'aḳhtar' ki gumrahī

maiñ apne qāfile se huuñ kosoñ baḌhā huā

muddat se lapata hai KHuda jaane kya hua

phirta tha ek shaKHs tumhein puchhta hua

wo zindagi thi aap the ya koi KHwab tha

jo kuchh tha ek lamhe ko bas samna hua

hum ne tere baghair bhi ji kar dikha diya

ab ye sawal kya hai ki phir dil ka kya hua

so bhi wo tu na dekh saki ai hawa-e-dahr

sine mein ek charagh rakha tha jala hua

duniya ko zid numaish-e-zaKHm-e-jigar se thi

fariyaad main ne ki na zamana KHafa hua

har anjuman mein dhyan usi anjuman ka hai

jaga ho jaise KHwab koi dekhta hua

shayad chaman mein ji na lage lauT aaun main

sayyaad rakh qafas ka abhi dar khula hua

ye iztirab-e-shauq hai 'aKHtar' ki gumrahi

main apne qafile se hun koson baDha hua