shaayaan e zindagii na the ham mo atabar na the
— Akhtar Hoshiyarpuri
Shaayaan-e-zindagee na the ham mo'atabar na the
Haan kam-nazar the itne magar kam-nazar na the
Ab ke baras jo phuul khilaa kaaghzee hee thaa
Ab ke to duur duur kaheen barg-e-tar na the
Har phuul ek zakhm thaa har shaakh ek laash
Goyaa ki raah men thiin saleeben shajar na the
Baadal uThe to ret ke zarre baras paDe
Ham ko bhigo ga.e hain wo daaman jo tar na the
Kahte the ek joo-e-ravaan hai chaman chaman
Dekhaa to bastiyon ke kinaare bhee tar na the
Takraa ke sar ko apnaa lahoo aap chaaTte
Achchhaa huaa ki dasht men deevaar-o-dar na the
Dariyaa kaa siina chiir ke ubhre jo sat.h par
Daaman men sang-reze the 'akhtar' guhar na the