raqs karta hai ba-andaz-e-junun dauDta hai

raqs kartā hai ba-andāz-e-junūñ dauḌtā hai

dil agar ḳhush ho to chehre pe bhī ḳhuuñ dauḌtā hai

kabhī sarsabz hai manzar kabhī be-āb-o-giyāh

kisht-e-ummīd meñ ye kaisā fusūñ dauḌtā hai

jazba-e-ishq bahut ḳhaak uḌātā hai magar

kū-e-jānāñ meñ ba-andāz-e-sukūñ dauḌtā hai

sirf maḳhlūq-e-ḳhudā par hī to mauqūf nahīñ

sīna-e-dahr meñ bhī soz-e-darūñ dauḌtā hai

ḳhastagī aisī to mujh par kabhī guzrī hī na thī

ab ke sar-tā-ba-qadam hāl-e-zabūñ dauḌtā hai

yaad aatī hī nahīñ ḳhāna-ḳharābī apnī

mutma.in ghar hai ab āñgan meñ sukūñ dauḌtā hai

kaisī vahshat hai ki dam lene kī fursat bhī nahīñ

jis ko dekho vahī ham-rañg-e-junūñ dauḌtā hai

ġhaur kartā huuñ to har lamha-e-be-tāb yahāñ

jitnā maiñ sochtā thā us se fuzūñ dauḌtā hai

apnī raftār pe nāzāñ bhī huuñ sharminda bhī

razm-gah meñ koī be-vaj.h bhī yuuñ dauḌtā hai

aisī vīrānī to dekhī na sunī thī 'aḳhtar'

har taraf ālam-e-fānī meñ sukūñ dauḌtā hai

raqs karta hai ba-andaz-e-junun dauDta hai

dil agar KHush ho to chehre pe bhi KHun dauDta hai

kabhi sarsabz hai manzar kabhi be-ab-o-giyah

kisht-e-ummid mein ye kaisa fusun dauDta hai

jazba-e-ishq bahut KHak uData hai magar

ku-e-jaanan mein ba-andaz-e-sukun dauDta hai

sirf maKHluq-e-KHuda par hi to mauquf nahin

sina-e-dahr mein bhi soz-e-darun dauDta hai

KHastagi aisi to mujh par kabhi guzri hi na thi

ab ke sar-ta-ba-qadam haal-e-zabun dauDta hai

yaad aati hi nahin KHana-KHarabi apni

mutmain ghar hai ab aangan mein sukun dauDta hai

kaisi wahshat hai ki dam lene ki fursat bhi nahin

jis ko dekho wahi ham-rang-e-junun dauDta hai

ghaur karta hun to har lamha-e-be-tab yahan

jitna main sochta tha us se fuzun dauDta hai

apni raftar pe nazan bhi hun sharminda bhi

razm-gah mein koi be-wajh bhi yun dauDta hai

aisi virani to dekhi na suni thi 'aKHtar'

har taraf aalam-e-fani mein sukun dauDta hai