bahr-e-KHalish mein rah ke guzari ye zindagi

bahr-e-ḳhalish meñ rah ke guzārī ye zindagī

kab tak rahegī merī savārī ye zindagī

bechārgī pe ḳhud kī maiñ royā thā zār-zār

jab āsmāñ se mujh ko utārī ye zindagī

us kī jabīñ pe koī shikan tak na aa sakī

jis kī ḳhushī ke vāste haarī ye zindagī

ye dil-lagī shaġhaf kī qayāmat se kam nahīñ

dil tak pahuñch ga.ī hai shikārī ye zindagī

shahr-e-vafā meñ phuul sā lahja bikher kar

ab tak fareb-e-zan kī hai maarī ye zindagī

mī'ād zindagī kī to misl-e-habāb hai

muddat sameT letī hai saarī ye zindagī

is zindagī meñ ḳhū-e-vafādāriyāñ nahīñ

jaise ki maut kī ho udhārī ye zindagī

'aḳhtar' ise qazā ne suhāgan banā diyā

muddat se jī rahī thī kuñvārī ye zindagī

bahr-e-KHalish mein rah ke guzari ye zindagi

kab tak rahegi meri sawari ye zindagi

bechaargi pe KHud ki main roya tha zar-zar

jab aasman se mujh ko utari ye zindagi

us ki jabin pe koi shikan tak na aa saki

jis ki KHushi ke waste haari ye zindagi

ye dil-lagi shaghaf ki qayamat se kam nahin

dil tak pahunch gai hai shikari ye zindagi

shahr-e-wafa mein phul sa lahja bikher kar

ab tak fareb-e-zan ki hai mari ye zindagi

mi'ad zindagi ki to misl-e-habab hai

muddat sameT leti hai sari ye zindagi

is zindagi mein KHu-e-wafadariyan nahin

jaise ki maut ki ho udhaari ye zindagi

'aKHtar' ise qaza ne suhagan bana diya

muddat se ji rahi thi kunwari ye zindagi