dil-e-shikasta harif-e-shabab ho na saka
ye jam-e-zarf nawaz-e-sharab ho na saka
kuchh aise rahm ke qabil the ibtida hi se hum
ki un se bhi sitam-e-be-hisab ho na saka
nazar na aaya kabhi shab ko un ka jalwa-e-ruKH
ye aaftab kabhi mahtab ho na saka
nigah-e-faiz se mahrum bartari malum
sitara chamka magar aaftab ho na saka
hai jam KHali to phiki hai chandni kaisi
ye sail-e-nur sitam hai sharab ho na saka
ye mai chhalak ke bhi us husn ko pahunch na saki
ye phul ghul ke bhi us ka shabab ho na saka
kisi ki shoKH-nawai ka hosh tha kis ko
main na-tawan to harif-e-KHitab ho na saka
hun tere wasl se mayus is qadar goya
kabhi jahan mein koi kaamyab ho na saka
wo puchhte hain tere dil ki aarzu kya hai
ye KHwab hae kabhi mera KHwab ho na saka
talash-e-mani-e-hasti mein falsafa na KHirad
ye raaz aaj talak be-hijab ho na saka
sharab-e-ishq mein aisi kashish si thi 'aKHtar'
ki lakh zabt kiya ijtinab ho na saka
Ghazal
Dil-e-shikasta harif-e-shabab ho na saka
Akhtar Shirani