ek khana-e-matam hi ye aalam to nahin hai
taqdir-e-bashar nauha-e-paiham to nahin hai

naghmat-e-masarrat bhi hain lamhat-e-tarab bhi
ye sham-e-alam wirsa-e-adam to nahin hai

khushbu ka tabassum bhi hai rangon ki hansi bhi
gulshan mein faqat girya-e-shabnam to nahin hai

kuchh aur bhi jazbe hain jo dildar hain dil ke
ek gham hi dil-e-zar ka marham to nahin hai

ek shama andheron mein abhi tak hai farozan
go tez nahin raushni maddham to nahin hai

ek chashma-e-tanwir bhi phutega yahin se
mayus shab-e-tar se 'akram' to nahin hai