yaad mein apne yar-e-jaani ki
hum ne mar mar ke zindagani ki

doston ko adu kiya hum ne
kar ke tarif yar-e-jaani ki

kyun na ruswa kare zamane mein
ye kahani gham-e-nihani ki

ruh huegi hashr mein sahab
ek nishani sara-e-fani ki

khaksari se badh gaya insan
arz par sair aasmani ki

zard surat pe hijr mein na hanso
sharh hai rang-e-zafrani ki

aaj kal lucknow mein ai 'akhtar'
dhum hai teri khush-bayani ki