wo jawani to jawani hi nahin
jis ki ho koi kahani hi nahin

dard koi be-karani hi nahin
bare teri meherbani hi nahin

main samajhta tha hai ghairat-mand wo
us ki to aankhon mein pani hi nahin

shadi-o-gham ka na gar ho imtizaj
zindagani zindagani hi nahin

har koi marta hai apne waqt par
maut hoti na-gahani hi nahin

ai dil-e-barbaad ab main kya karun
baat meri tu ne mani hi nahin

aaj-kal ki shaeri kya shaeri
sher mauzun hai maani hi nahin

main to wo kahta hun 'akhtar' jo hai haq
mujh ko aati lan-tarani hi nahin