na bhul kar bhi tamanna-e-rang-o-bu karte
chaman ke phul agar teri aarzu karte

janab-e-shaikh pahunch jate hauz-e-kausar tak
agar sharab se mai-khane mein wazu karte

masarrat aah tu basti hai kin sitaron mein
zamin pe umr hui teri justuju karte

ayagh-e-baada mein aa kar wo khud chhalak padta
gar us ke mast zara aur hao hu karte

unhen mafar na tha iqrar-e-ishq se lekin
haya ko zid thi ki wo pas-e-abru karte

pukar uthta wo aa kar dilon ki dhadkan mein
hum apne sine mein gar us ki justuju karte

gham-e-zamana ne majbur kar diya warna
ye aarzu thi ki bas teri aarzu karte

giran tha saqi-e-dauran pe ek saghar bhi
to kis umid pe hum khwahish-e-subu karte

junun-e-ishq ki tasir to ye thi 'akhtar'
ki hum nahin wo khud izhaar-e-arzu karte