main aarzu-e-jaan likhun ya jaan-e-arzu!
tu hi bata de naz se iman-e-arzu!

aansu nikal rahe hain tasawwur mein ban ke phul
shadab ho raha hai gulistan-e-arzu!

iman o jaan nisar teri ek nigah par
tu jaan-e-arzu hai tu iman-e-arzu!

hone ko hai tulu sabah-e-shab-e-visal
bujhne ko hai charagh-e-shabistan-e-arzu!

ek wo ki aarzuon pe jite hain umr bhar
ek hum ki hain abhi se pashiman-e-arzu!

aankhon se ju-e-khun hai rawan dil hai dagh dagh
dekhe koi bahaar-e-gulistan-e-arzu!

dil mein nashat-e-rafta ki dhundli si yaad hai
ya sham-e-wasl hai tah-e-daman-e-arzu!

'akhtar' ko zindagi ka bharosa nahin raha
jab se luta chuke sar-o-saman-e-arzu!