sochna chhod diya hum ne ki kal kya hoga
is se behtar gham-e-dauran tera hal kya hoga

tum mujhe shahr-badar kar to rahe ho lekin
ye bhi socha hai ki anjam-e-ghazal kya hoga

main to kar lun ba-khushi tujh ko gawara lekin
gham-e-tanhai tera dard-e-amal kya hoga

jis ki khushbu se mahakte hain dar-o-baam-e-hayat
kuchh sahi mausam-e-gul is ka badal kya hoga

jagmagata hai jo har zarre ke dil mein aksar
hae wo husn-e-sanam husn-e-azal kya hoga

khud masiha hai yahan aah-o-fughan mein masruf
is se auron ki takalif ka hal kya hoga

gesu-e-waqt ulajhte hi chale jate hain
har bashar soch mein duba hai ki kal kya hoga

ai mere bhulne wale kabhi ye bhi socha
jagmaga utthe jo yaadon ke kanwal kya hoga

har-nafas dar ki manind lage hai 'akhtar'
zindagi ye hai to phir rang-e-ajal kya hoga