thi titliyon ke taaqub mein zindagi meri

thī titliyoñ ke ta.āqub meñ zindagī merī

vo shahr kyā huā jis kī thī har galī merī

maiñ apnī zaat kī tashrīh kartā phirtā thā

na jaane phir kahāñ āvāz kho ga.ī merī

ye sarguzisht-e-zamāna ye dāstān-e-hayāt

adhūrī baat meñ bhī rah ga.ī kamī merī

havā-e-koh-e-nidā ik zarā Thahar ki abhī

zamāna ġhaur se suntā hai an-kahī merī

maiñ itne zor se chīḳhā chaTaḳh gayā hai badan

phir is ke ba.ad kisī ne nahīñ sunī merī

ye darmiyāñ kā ḳhalā hī mirā nahīñ varna

ye āsmān bhī merā zamīn bhī merī

kise ḳhabar ki guhar kaise haath aate haiñ

samundaroñ se bhī gahrī hai ḳhāmushī merī

koī to aa.e mire paas do ghaḌī baiThe

ki kar ga.ī mujhe tanhā ḳhud-āgahī merī

kabhī kabhī to zamāna rahā nigāhoñ meñ

kabhī kabhī nazar aa.ī na shakl bhī merī

mujhe ḳhabar hai kahāñ huuñ maiñ kaun huuñ 'aḳhtar'

ki mere naam se sūrat girī huī merī

thi titliyon ke taaqub mein zindagi meri

wo shahr kya hua jis ki thi har gali meri

main apni zat ki tashrih karta phirta tha

na jaane phir kahan aawaz kho gai meri

ye sarguzisht-e-zamana ye dastan-e-hayat

adhuri baat mein bhi rah gai kami meri

hawa-e-koh-e-nida ek zara Thahar ki abhi

zamana ghaur se sunta hai an-kahi meri

main itne zor se chiKHa chaTaKH gaya hai badan

phir is ke baad kisi ne nahin suni meri

ye darmiyan ka KHala hi mera nahin warna

ye aasman bhi mera zamin bhi meri

kise KHabar ki guhar kaise hath aate hain

samundaron se bhi gahri hai KHamushi meri

koi to aae mere pas do ghaDi baiThe

ki kar gai mujhe tanha KHud-agahi meri

kabhi kabhi to zamana raha nigahon mein

kabhi kabhi nazar aai na shakl bhi meri

mujhe KHabar hai kahan hun main kaun hun 'aKHtar'

ki mere nam se surat giri hui meri