nikhat-e-zulf se nindon ko basa de aa kar

nik.hat-e-zulf se nīñdoñ ko basā de aa kar

merī jaagī huī rātoñ ko sulā de aa kar

fikr-e-fardā o ġham-e-dosh bhulā de aa kar

phir usī naaz se dīvāna banā de aa kar

'ishq ko naġhma-e-ummīd sunā de aa kar

dil kī soī huī qismat ko jagā de aa kar

kis qadar tiira o tārīk hai duniyā-e-hayāt

jalva-e-husn se ik sham' jalā de aa kar

'ishq kī chāñdnī rāteñ mujhe yaad aatī haiñ

umr-e-rafta ko mirī mujh se milā de aa kar

zindagī ban ke mire dil meñ samā jā salmā

maut ik parda hai ye parda uThā de aa kar

aag sī dil meñ lagā jaatā hai terā har ḳhat

aa mire ḳhirman-e-hastī ko jalā de aa kar

terī furqat meñ mire she'r haiñ kitne ġhamgīñ

muskurātī huī nazroñ se hañsā de aa kar

phir vahī ham hoñ vahī din hoñ vahī rāteñ hoñ

ahd-e-rafta ko phir ā.īna dikhā de aa kar

shauq-e-nādīda meñ lazzat hai magar naaz nahīñ

aa mire 'ishq ko maġhrūr banā de aa kar

shab-e-furqat pe mirī hañste haiñ ai ḳhanda-e-nūr

mere qadmoñ pe sitāroñ ko girā de aa kar

tishna-e-husn huuñ ai sāqī-mai-ḳhāna-e-husn

apne hoñToñ se phir ik jaam pilā de aa kar

kab talak raunaq-e-shām-e-avadh ai māh-e-ravāñ

shām-e-lahore ko bhī sub.h banā de aa kar

ho chukī sair-e-bahārāñ-kada-e-qaisar-bāġh

bāġh-e-lawrence meñ bhī phuul khilā de aa kar

gomtī dekh chukī jalva-e-āriz kī bahār

sat.h-e-rāvī ko bhī ā.īna banā de aa kar

terā rūmān nayā ḳhvāb hai 'aḳhtar' ke liye

aa aur is ḳhvāb kī tā'bīr batā de aa kar

nikhat-e-zulf se nindon ko basa de aa kar

meri jagi hui raaton ko sula de aa kar

fikr-e-farda o gham-e-dosh bhula de aa kar

phir usi naz se diwana bana de aa kar

'ishq ko naghma-e-ummid suna de aa kar

dil ki soi hui qismat ko jaga de aa kar

kis qadar tera o tarik hai duniya-e-hayat

jalwa-e-husn se ek sham' jala de aa kar

'ishq ki chandni raaten mujhe yaad aati hain

umr-e-rafta ko meri mujh se mila de aa kar

zindagi ban ke mere dil mein sama ja salma

maut ek parda hai ye parda uTha de aa kar

aag si dil mein laga jata hai tera har KHat

aa mere KHirman-e-hasti ko jala de aa kar

teri furqat mein mere she'r hain kitne ghamgin

muskuraati hui nazron se hansa de aa kar

phir wahi hum hon wahi din hon wahi raaten hon

ahd-e-rafta ko phir aaina dikha de aa kar

shauq-e-nadida mein lazzat hai magar naz nahin

aa mere 'ishq ko maghrur bana de aa kar

shab-e-furqat pe meri hanste hain ai KHanda-e-nur

mere qadmon pe sitaron ko gira de aa kar

tishna-e-husn hun ai saqi-mai-KHana-e-husn

apne honTon se phir ek jam pila de aa kar

kab talak raunaq-e-sham-e-awadh ai mah-e-rawan

sham-e-lahore ko bhi subh bana de aa kar

ho chuki sair-e-bahaaran-kada-e-qaisar-bagh

bagh-e-lawrence mein bhi phul khila de aa kar

gomti dekh chuki jalwa-e-ariz ki bahaar

sath-e-rawi ko bhi aaina bana de aa kar

tera ruman naya KHwab hai 'aKHtar' ke liye

aa aur is KHwab ki ta'bir bata de aa kar