vo zindagi hai us ko ḳhafa kya kare koi
paani ko sahilon se juda kya kare koi
barish ka pahla qatra hi basti dubo gaya
ab apni jaan ka qarz ada kya kare koi
jab gard uḌ rahi ho harim-e-ḳhayal men
aina dekhne ke siva kya gire koi
vo kya gae ki shahr hi viran ho gaya
ab jangalon men rah ke sada kya kare koi
apne badan ki aag se shamen jalaiye
kachche gharon men jashn-e-hina kya kare koi
zahrab-e-zindagi to ragon men utar gaya
ab ai gham-e-firaq bata kya kare koi
miTTi se khelta hua rizq-e-hava hua
‘aḳhtar’ ab aur sharh-e-vafa kya kare koi