saf zahir hai nigahon se ki hum marte hain
munh se kahte hue ye baat magar darte hain

ek taswir-e-mohabbat hai jawani goya
jis mein rangon ke ewaz khun-e-jigar bharte hain

ishrat-e-rafta ne ja kar na kiya yaad hamein
ishrat-e-rafta ko hum yaad kiya karte hain

aasman se kabhi dekhi na gai apni khushi
ab ye haalat hai ki hum hanste hue darte hain

sher kahte ho bahut khub tum 'akhtar' lekin
achchhe shair ye suna hai ki jawan marte hain