saaf zaahir hai nigaaho.n se ki ham marate hai.n 
muu.Nh se kahate huye ye baat magar Darate hai.n 

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

[ivaz=instead of] 

isharat-e-raftaa ne jaa kar na kiyaa yaad hame.n 
isharat-e-raftaa ko ham yaad kiyaa karate hai.n 

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

aasmaa.N se kabhii dekhii na ga_ii apanii Khushii 
ab ye haalaat hai.n ki ham ha.Nsate hue Darate hai.n 

sher kahate ho bahut Khuub tum "Akhtar" lekin 
achchhe shaayar ye sunaa hai ki javaa.N marate hai.n