aah duniya sara-e-fani hai
kis qadar mukhtasar kahani hai

khud ko deta hun muskura ke fareb
dil magar waqf-e-nauha-khwani hai

mujh se hans-bol len mere sathi
ab koi din ki zindagani hai

mausam-e-gul mein wo jo aan milen
hum bhi jaanen ki rut suhani hai

be-sabab to nahin bahe aansu
aansu aansu mein ek kahani hai

ek sarapa ki ranj-o-yas hain hum
dard-e-dil monis-e-jawani hai

muskuraun main kis tarah 'altaf'
tak mein daur-e-asmani hai