Saaf zaahir hai nigaaho.n se ki ham marte hai.n,
muu.Nh se kahte huye ye baat magar Darte hai.n ,

ek tasvir-e-muhabbat hai javaanii goyaa,
jis me.n rango.n kii ivaz Khunn-e-jigar bharte hai.n ,


ishrat-e-raftaa ne jaa kar na kiyaa yaad hame.n,
ishrat-e-raftaa ko ham yaad kiyaa karte hai.n 

[ishrat-e-raftaa=happiness of the days gone by] 

aasmaa.N se kabhii dekhii na ga_ii apnii Khushii,
ab ye haalaat hai.n ki ham ha.Nste hue Darte hai.n ,

sher kahte ho bahut Khuub tum "Akhtar" lekin,
achchhe shaayar ye sunaa hai ki javaa.N marte hai.n.