tufan-e-abr-o-baad se har-su nami bhi hai

tūfān-e-abr-o-bād se har-sū namī bhī hai

peḌoñ ke TūTne kā samāñ dīdanī bhī hai

arzāñ hai apne shahr meñ paanī kī tarah ḳhuuñ

varna vafā kā ḳhuun baḌā qīmtī bhī hai

yaaro shaguft-e-gul kī sadā par chale chalo

dasht-e-junūñ ke moḌ pe kuchh raushnī bhī hai

TuuTe hue makāñ haiñ magar chāñd se makīñ

is shahr-e-ārzū meñ ik aisī galī bhī hai

begāna-vār guzrī chalī jā rahī hai ziist

muḌ muḌ ke dostoñ kī tarah dekhtī bhī hai

'aḳhtar' guzarte lamhoñ kī aahaT pe yuuñ na chauñk

is mātamī julūs meñ ik zindagī bhī hai

tufan-e-abr-o-baad se har-su nami bhi hai

peDon ke TuTne ka saman didani bhi hai

arzan hai apne shahr mein pani ki tarah KHun

warna wafa ka KHun baDa qimti bhi hai

yaro shaguft-e-gul ki sada par chale chalo

dasht-e-junun ke moD pe kuchh raushni bhi hai

TuTe hue makan hain magar chand se makin

is shahr-e-arzu mein ek aisi gali bhi hai

begana-war guzri chali ja rahi hai zist

muD muD ke doston ki tarah dekhti bhi hai

'aKHtar' guzarte lamhon ki aahaT pe yun na chaunk

is matami julus mein ek zindagi bhi hai