yaran-e-tez-gam se ranjish kahan hai ab
manzil pe ja pahunchne ki khwahish kahan hai ab

zindan mein din bhi raat hi jaisa guzar gaya
ahl-e-junun wo pahli si shorish kahan hai ab

jam-e-sharab ab to mere samne na rakh
aankhon mein nur hath mein jumbish kahan hai ab

halqa-ba-gosh koi na ab yar hai yahan
wo roz-o-shab ki dad-o-sataish kahan hai ab

jine ka haq jo manga to tewar badal gae
wo mere muhsinon ki nawazish kahan hai ab

chehre pe gard-e-umr-e-rawan ka zuhur hai
banhon ke baale boson ki barish kahan hai ab

khanjar ho ya ki dashna ho ya tegh ya qalam
'akhtar' wo aab aur wo burrish kahan hai ab