gham-e-hayat kahani hai qissa-khwan hun main
dil-e-sitam-zada hai raaz-dan hun main

ziyaada is se koi aaj tak bata na saka
ki ek nukta-e-na-qabil-e-bayan hun main

nazar ke samne kaundi thi ek bijli si
mujhe batao khuda-ra ki ab kahan hun main

khizan ne lut liya gulshan-e-shabab magar
kisi bahaar ke arman mein jawan hun main

ye kah rahi hai nazar ki gham-e-afrin jumbish
kisi ke dil ki tabahi ki dastan hun main

khizan kahti thi main shokhi-e-bahaaran hun
bahaar kahti hai rangini-e-khizan hun main

shabab nam hai us jaan-nawaz lamhe ka
jab aadmi ko ye mahsus ho jawan hun main

jahan-e-dard-o-alam pujta hai mujh ko aah
tapish-e-jabin hai lahu sajda aastan hun main

wo din bhi the ki main jaan-e-shabab tha 'akhtar'
ab apne ahd-e-jawani ki dastan hun main