ashkon ki ghanghor ghata hai
nain samundar kanp raha hai

ghor andhera hai to kya hai
raat ka suraj chamak raha hai

kashti koi dub na jae
shokh samundar umad raha hai

zulm ki duniya zard-aluda
sabr ki duniya sabz-numa hai

jangal-jangal raushan-raushan
apna dil kyon bujha bujha hai

dil ka chehra raushan-raushan
lagta hai mahtab hua hai

dagh-e-furqat aur farozan
jab bhi charagh-e-yaad jala hai

karb ki khushbu aur badhegi
dil mein ab ye phul khila hai

duniya ke gham bhul gaya hun
tera tasawwur hosh-ruba hai

'akhtar' ji ki sukhanwari mein
rang-e-taghazzul bol raha hai