kise khabar jab main shahr e jaan se guzar rahaa thaa
— Akhtar Hoshiyarpuri
Kise khabar jab main shahr-e-jaan se guzar rahaa thaa
Zameen thee pahloo men sooraj ik kos par rahaa thaa
Havaa men khushbuen meree pahchaan ban ga.ee thiin
Main apnee miTTee se phuul ban kar ubhar rahaa thaa
Ajiib sargoshiyon kaa aalam thaa anjuman men
Main sun rahaa thaa zamaana tanqeed kar rahaa thaa
Wo kaisee chhat thee jo mujh ko aavaaz de rahee thee
Wo kya nagar thaa jahaan main chup-chaap utar rahaa thaa
Main dekhtaa thaa ki ungliyon men diye kee lau hai
Main jaagtaa thaa ki rang khvaabon men bhar rahaa thaa
Ye baat alag hai ki main ne jhaankaa nahin galee men
Ye sach hai koi sadaa.en detaa guzar rahaa thaa
Ye chand be-harf-o-saut khaake miraa asaasa
Main jin ko ghazlon kaa naam de kar sanvar rahaa thaa
Zamaana shabnam ke bhes men aayaa aur duaa dee
Main zard-rut men jab apnee baahon men mar rahaa thaa
Mujhe kisee se naqab-zanee kaa khatar nahin thaa
Main 'akhtar' apne hee jasad-e-khaakee se Dar rahaa thaa