wo zindagi hai us ko khafa kya kare koi
pani ko sahilon se juda kya kare koi

barish ka pahla qatra hi basti dubo gaya
ab apni jaan ka qarz ada kya kare koi

jab gard ud rahi ho harim-e-khayal mein
aaina dekhne ke siwa kya gire koi

wo kya gae ki shahr hi viran ho gaya
ab jangalon mein rah ke sada kya kare koi

apne badan ki aag se shamen jalaiye
kachche gharon mein jashn-e-hina kya kare koi

zahrab-e-zindagi to ragon mein utar gaya
ab ai gham-e-firaq bata kya kare koi

mitti se khelta hua rizq-e-hawa hua
'akhtar' ab aur sharh-e-wafa kya kare koi