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