zindagi kya hai jo dil ho tashna-e-zauq-e-vafa
ya.ani ye parda to uTh sakta hai asani ke saath
guftugu-e-surat-o-mani hai unvan-e-hayat
khelte hain vo miri fitrat ki hairani ke saath
tum ne har zarre men barpa kar diya tufan-e-shauq
ik tabassum is qadar jalvon ki tughyani ke saath
dil ki abadi hai ‘aḳhtar’ dil ki barbadi ka naam
ik ta.alluq hai miri hasti ko virani ke saath