rāh-e-talab meñ dām-o-diram chhoḌ jā.eñge
likh lo hamāre sher baḌe kaam ā.eñge
jhūTā hai jhuuT baat ye bolegā ā.īna
aao hamāre sāmne ham sach batā.eñge
tanhā jo apnā bojh uThā.e hue haiñ ḳhud
mar jaa.eñ ham to chaar ye mil kar uThā.eñge
thoḌī sī be-ḳhudī ho to ham uTh ke chal paḌeñ
hosh-o-havās meñ to qadam laḌkhaḌā.eñge
ham ne tumhāre ba.ad jalāyā nahīñ charāġh
tum kyā samajh rahe the ki ham dil jalā.eñge
'aḳhtar' ham āsmān pe aa to ga.e magar
aisā nahīñ ki apnī zamīñ bhuul jā.eñge