bahr-e-hasti koi sarab nahin
zindagi zindagi hai khwab nahin

aah insan jis ki aankhon par
apna anjam be-naqab nahin

ek khurshid-rukh ki zulfon ka
raat ke pas kuchh jawab nahin

zindagi dard se hui mahrum
mai-kada hai magar sharab nahin

mutrib-e-waqt tere hathon mein
kyon hai talwar aur rabab nahin

aadmi aadmi ka raaziq hai
nazm-e-alam magar kharab nahin

hae 'altaf' wo hazin raaten
jin ki qismat mein mahtab nahin