ye bhi nazar ka dhoka hai ya kar-e-nazar hai kya malum

ye bhī nazar kā dhokā hai yā kār-e-nazar hai kyā ma.alūm

sat.h pe zarre raqsāñ haiñ yā mauj-e-guhar hai kyā ma.alūm

kaun na jaane mahv-e-sitam hai nā-haq shikva kyuuñ kījiye

charḳh hai yā is parde meñ vo arbada-gar hai kyā ma.alūm

vo bhī haiñ kuchh kho.e hue se jin ko vāqif kahte haiñ

hastī ke asrār-e-nihāñ kī kis ko ḳhabar hai kyā ma.alūm

rātoñ ko uTh uTh kar hamdam ik muddat se rotā huuñ

merī āh-e-nīm-shabī meñ kaisā asar hai kyā ma.alūm

hastī kā hañgāma bapā hai saañs ke aane jaane par

a.alam-e-zabt-o-tamkīñ hai yā raqs-e-sharar hai kyā ma.alūm

dīvāne to dīvāne haiñ in ko apnā hosh kahāñ

aql pe jin ko naaz hai utnā un ko magar hai kyā ma.alūm

hijr kī shab tūfān-e-hujūm ashk meñ itnā hosh kahāñ

siine meñ hai qalb ki sirf dīda-e-tar hai kyā ma.alūm

ham ne to ro kar hī guzārīñ ghaḌiyāñ umr-e-fānī kī

hogā paas dard-o-mohabbat un ko agar hai kyā ma.alūm

muddat guzrī 'aḳhtar' kī paa.ī na kisī se koī ḳhabar

mar gayā vo nāshād ki ab tak ḳhāk-basar hai kyā ma.alūm

ye bhi nazar ka dhoka hai ya kar-e-nazar hai kya malum

sath pe zarre raqsan hain ya mauj-e-guhar hai kya malum

kaun na jaane mahw-e-sitam hai na-haq shikwa kyun kijiye

charKH hai ya is parde mein wo arbada-gar hai kya malum

wo bhi hain kuchh khoe hue se jin ko waqif kahte hain

hasti ke asrar-e-nihan ki kis ko KHabar hai kya malum

raaton ko uTh uTh kar hamdam ek muddat se rota hun

meri aah-e-nim-shabi mein kaisa asar hai kya malum

hasti ka hangama bapa hai sans ke aane jaane par

aalam-e-zabt-o-tamkin hai ya raqs-e-sharar hai kya malum

diwane to diwane hain in ko apna hosh kahan

aql pe jin ko naz hai utna un ko magar hai kya malum

hijr ki shab tufan-e-hujum ashk mein itna hosh kahan

sine mein hai qalb ki sirf dida-e-tar hai kya malum

hum ne to ro kar hi guzarin ghaDiyan umr-e-fani ki

hoga pas dard-o-mohabbat un ko agar hai kya malum

muddat guzri 'aKHtar' ki pai na kisi se koi KHabar

mar gaya wo nashad ki ab tak KHak-basar hai kya malum