ibtida har ek khushi ki intiha-e-gham se hai
tazgi-e-ghuncha-o-gul girya-e-shabnam se hai

hadsat-e-dahr mein shamil raha kis ka lahu
surkh-rui bagh-e-alam ki hamare dam se hai

apne mai-khwaron ko saqi mast nazron ki pila
raunaq-e-bazm-e-masarrat daur-e-jam-e-jam se hai

mushkilen kitni bhi hon manzil pe pahunchenge zarur
kaamyabi ki tawaqqo koshish-e-paiham se hai

hum se hi wabasta hai 'akhtar' bahaar-e-rang-o-bu
husn ki naz-afrini aashiqi ke dam se hai