jahan-e-be-sabaati mein tamasha-e-jahan kab tak
chamakte mehr-o-mah tare zamin-o-asman kab tak

shab-e-gham mein tajalli par na itra ai dil-e-muztar
sitaron ki ye chashmak aur raqs-e-kahkashan kab tak

samundar ki khamoshi ek tufan sath laegi
kisi na-mehrban ki ye nigah-e-mehrban kab tak

badhae ja qadam tu badh ke sargarm-e-amal ho ja
yunhi takta rahega su-e-gard-e-karwan kab tak

laga kar aag khud hi kyon na bad-bakhti pe main ro lun
jalaen aashiyan ko mere aakhir bijliyan kab tak

ye behtar hai falak hona hai jo kuchh ab wo ho jae
rahun teri bala-e-na-gahan ke darmiyan kab tak

kamal-e-zabt par bhi ashk-e-gham aankhon se bah nikle
bhala roke se ruk sakti thi ye sail-e-rawan kab tak

faza-e-zist par tari hai 'akhtar' yas ka aalam
na jaane matla-e-ummid hoga zarfishan kab tak