mujhe din-raat fikr-e-ashiyan malum hoti hai

mujhe din-rāt fikr-e-āshiyāñ ma.alūm hotī hai

ki bargashta nigāh-e-bāġhbāñ ma.alūm hotī hai

jo dil āzād ho to har jagah hāsil hai āzādī

qafas meñ bhī bahār-e-gulsitāñ ma.alūm hotī hai

pa.e-gul-gasht shāyad aaj vo jān-e-bahār aayā

chaman kī pattī pattī gulsitāñ ma.alūm hotī hai

ujaḌtī aa rahī hai muddatoñ se dekhiye phir bhī

bahār-e-bāġh-e-ālam be-ḳhizāñ ma.alūm hotī hai

tabassum un ke hoñToñ par taḌap hai mere siine meñ

kahāñ bijlī chamaktī hai kahāñ ma.alūm hotī hai

shafaq phūlī huī hai har taraf ḳhūn-e-shahīdāñ kī

zamīn-e-kū-e-qātil āsmāñ ma.alūm hotī hai

kisī kī anjuman meñ mujh pe ye pābandiyāñ 'aḳhtar'

zarā sī baat par kaTtī zabāñ ma.alūm hotī hai

mujhe din-raat fikr-e-ashiyan malum hoti hai

ki bargashta nigah-e-baghban malum hoti hai

jo dil aazad ho to har jagah hasil hai aazadi

qafas mein bhi bahaar-e-gulsitan malum hoti hai

pae-gul-gasht shayad aaj wo jaan-e-bahaar aaya

chaman ki patti patti gulsitan malum hoti hai

ujaDti aa rahi hai muddaton se dekhiye phir bhi

bahaar-e-bagh-e-alam be-KHizan malum hoti hai

tabassum un ke honTon par taDap hai mere sine mein

kahan bijli chamakti hai kahan malum hoti hai

shafaq phuli hui hai har taraf KHun-e-shahidan ki

zamin-e-ku-e-qatil aasman malum hoti hai

kisi ki anjuman mein mujh pe ye pabandiyan 'aKHtar'

zara si baat par kaTti zaban malum hoti hai