wo kam-nasib jo ahd-e-jafa mein rahte hain
ajib mariz-e-karb-o-bala mein rahte hain

numud-e-zauq o bulugh-e-hunar ka zikr hi kya
yahan ye log to aah-o-buka mein rahte hain

wida-e-khuld ke baad arsa-e-firaq mein hain
ba-qaid-e-jism dayar-e-fana mein rahte hain

wo subh o sham meri ruh mein hain jalwa-numa
dil-e-figar o alam-ashna mein rahte hain

hisar-e-zat mein mahbus ho ke ahl-e-hawas
fareb-e-hasil-e-be-muddaa mein rahte hain

bhula chuke hain zamin o zaman ke sab qisse
sukhan-taraaz hain lekin khala mein rahte hain

amir-e-shahr ki sohbat ke faiz se 'akhtar'
janab-e-shaikh ab unchi hawa mein rahte hain