naale mire jab tak mire kaam aate raheñge
ai zauq-e-nazar vo lab-e-bām aate raheñge
ai zauq-e-talab tū jo salāmat hai to kyā ġham
lab tak mire ḳhud jaam pe jaam aate raheñge
dil zinda agar ho to phir ai ziist ke tālib
har gaam pe jiine ke payām aate raheñge
manzil kī tamannā hai to Thukrā ke nikal jā
sayyād liye dāna-o-dām aate raheñge
khā jaao na dhokā kahīñ manzil ke gumāñ par
raste meñ kuchh aise bhī maqām aate raheñge
'aḳhtar' agar ābād rahe gul-kada-e-dil!
phir is meñ to kuchh mast ḳhirām aate raheñge