phir ye hua ki log darichon se haT gae

phir ye huā ki log darīchoñ se haT ga.e

lekin vo gard thī ki dar-o-bām aT ga.e

kuchh log jhāñkne lage dīvār-e-shahr se

kuchh log apne ḳhuun ke andar simaT ga.e

vo peḌ to nahīñ thā ki apnī jagah rahe

ham shāḳh to nahīñ the magar phir bhī kaT ga.e

pur-haul jañgaloñ meñ havā chīḳhtī phirī

vāpas gharoñ ko kyuuñ na musāfir palaT ga.e

itne to rāste meñ bhī saa.e nahīñ mile

jitne ki log aa.e aur aa kar palaT ga.e

miTTī ke in charāġhoñ kī himmat to dekhiye

jo jaate jaate shab kī safoñ ko ulaT ga.e

jab ham se apnī zaat kā patthar na uTh sakā

'aḳhtar' ham aa.ine ke muqābil hī DaT ga.e

phir ye hua ki log darichon se haT gae

lekin wo gard thi ki dar-o-baam aT gae

kuchh log jhankne lage diwar-e-shahr se

kuchh log apne KHun ke andar simaT gae

wo peD to nahin tha ki apni jagah rahe

hum shaKH to nahin the magar phir bhi kaT gae

pur-haul jangalon mein hawa chiKHti phiri

wapas gharon ko kyun na musafir palaT gae

itne to raste mein bhi sae nahin mile

jitne ki log aae aur aa kar palaT gae

miTTi ke in charaghon ki himmat to dekhiye

jo jate jate shab ki safon ko ulaT gae

jab hum se apni zat ka patthar na uTh saka

'aKHtar' hum aaine ke muqabil hi DaT gae