wada us mah-ru ke aane ka
ye nasiba siyah-khane ka

kah rahi hai nigah-e-duz-dida
rukh badalne ko hai zamane ka

zarre zarre mein be-hijab hain wo
jin ko dawa hai munh chhupane ka

hasil-e-umr hai shabab magar
ek yahi waqt hai ganwane ka

chandni khamushi aur aakhir shab
aa ki hai waqt dil lagane ka

hai qayamat tere shabab ka rang
rang badlega phir zamane ka

teri aankhon ki ho na ho taqsir
nam ruswa sharab-khane ka

rah gae ban ke hum sarapa gham
ye natija hai dil lagane ka

jis ka har lafz hai sarapa gham
main hun unwan us fasane ka

us ki badli hui nazar tauba
yun badalta hai rukh zamane ka

dekhte hain hamein wo chhup chhup kar
parda rah jae munh chhupane ka

kar diya khugar-e-sitam 'akhtar'
hum pe ehsan hai zamane ka