sada kuchh aisi mere gosh-e-dil mein aati hai

sadā kuchh aisī mire gosh-e-dil meñ aatī hai

koī binā-e-kuhan jaise laḌkhaḌātī hai

rachā huā hai fazāoñ meñ ek athāh hirās

dimāġh shal hai magar ruuh sansanātī hai

mujhe yaqīn hai āñdhī koī uThī hai kahīñ

ki lau charāġh-e-shabistāñ kī thartharātī hai

umiid yaas ke gahre ḳhamosh jañgal meñ

havā-e-shām kī mānind sarsarātī hai

savāl hai ġham-e-hastī ke biit jaane kā

ye zindagī to bahar-hāl biit jaatī hai

ḳhayāl-e-umr-e-guzishta zarā tavaqquf kar

zamīn qadmoñ ke nīche se niklī jaatī hai

maiñ apnī aag meñ jal kar kabhī kā ḳhaak huā

ye zindagī mujhe kyā ḳhaak meñ milātī hai

nishāna-bāz falak tere nāvakoñ kī ḳhair

ki jin kī zad pe mire hausloñ kī chhātī hai

lachak hī jaatī hai shāḳh apne āshiyāñ kī bhī

chaman meñ gaatī huī jab bahār aatī hai

fuġhān-e-dard laboñ par na aa.iyo zinhār

mirī salīqa-shi.ārī pe baat aatī hai

idhar ye girya-e-abr aur udhar vo ḳhanda-e-barq

mizāj-e-dahr mire dost tanziyātī hai

rahīn-e-rasm-o-rivāyat ho jis kī but-shikanī

vo but-shikan bhī haqīqat meñ somnātī hai

bapā hai shor-e-qayāmat dimāġh meñ 'aḳhtar'

zabān-e-ḳhāma magar zamzame luTātī hai

sada kuchh aisi mere gosh-e-dil mein aati hai

koi bina-e-kuhan jaise laDkhaDati hai

racha hua hai fazaon mein ek athah hiras

dimagh shal hai magar ruh sansanati hai

mujhe yaqin hai aandhi koi uThi hai kahin

ki lau charagh-e-shabistan ki thartharaati hai

umid yas ke gahre KHamosh jangal mein

hawa-e-sham ki manind sarsaraati hai

sawal hai gham-e-hasti ke bit jaane ka

ye zindagi to bahar-haal bit jati hai

KHayal-e-umr-e-guzishta zara tawaqquf kar

zamin qadmon ke niche se nikli jati hai

main apni aag mein jal kar kabhi ka KHak hua

ye zindagi mujhe kya KHak mein milati hai

nishana-baz falak tere nawakon ki KHair

ki jin ki zad pe mere hauslon ki chhati hai

lachak hi jati hai shaKH apne aashiyan ki bhi

chaman mein gati hui jab bahaar aati hai

fughan-e-dard labon par na aaiyo zinhaar

meri saliqa-shiari pe baat aati hai

idhar ye girya-e-abr aur udhar wo KHanda-e-barq

mizaj-e-dahr mere dost tanziyati hai

rahin-e-rasm-o-riwayat ho jis ki but-shikani

wo but-shikan bhi haqiqat mein somnati hai

bapa hai shor-e-qayamat dimagh mein 'aKHtar'

zaban-e-KHama magar zamzame luTati hai