zindagi hogi meri ai gham-e-dauran ek rose
main sanwarunga teri zulf-e-pareshan ek rose

gul khilaegi nai mauj-e-bahaaran ek rose
tut hi jaenge qufl-e-dar-e-zindan ek rose

kitne uljhe hue haalat-e-zamana hain abhi
honge shane pe mere gesu-e-jaanan ek rose

ahl-e-zindan se ye kah do ki zara sabr karen
hoga har samt gulistan hi gulistan ek rose

aa ke ek roz jalaunga muradon ke diye
teri mahfil mein karunga main charaghan ek rose

jaan deta hun abhi ishq ke andaz pe main
husn hoga mere pahlu mein ghazal-khwan ek roz

kuchh andhere hain abhi rah mein hail 'akhtar'
apni manzil pe nazar aaega insan ek rose