Nikhat-e-zulf se niindo ko basaa de aakar
merii jaagii huii raato ko sulaa de aakar

[nikhat-e-zulf=fragnance of the hair]

kis qadar tiiraa-o-taariik hai duniyaa merii
jalvaa-e-husn kii ik shamaa jalaa de aakar

[taariik=dark]

ishq kii chaadanii raate mujhey yaad aatii hai
umr-e-raftaa ko merii mujhse milaa de aakar

[umr-e-raftaa=past life]

zauq-e-naadiid me lazzat to hai magar naaz nahii
aa mere ishq ko magaruur banaa de aakar

[zauq-e-naadiid=desire for not seeing]
[naaz=pride; magaruur=proud]

Merii shaam-e-Gam ko vo bahalaa rahe hai
likhaa hai ye Khat me ki hum aa rahe hai

Thahar jaa zaraa aur dard-e-furqat
hamaare tasavvur me vo aa rahe hai

[dard-e-furqat=sorrow of parting]

Gam-e-aaqabat hai na fikr-e-zamaanaa
piye jaa rahe hai jiye jaa rahe hai

[aaqabat=life after death]

nahii shikavaa-e-tashnagii mayakasho ko
vo aakho se maikhaane barasaa rahe hai

vo rashk-e-bahaar aanevaalaa hai "Akhtar"
kaval hasarato ke khile jaa rahe hai

[rashk=envy]

Mastaanaa piye jaa yuu hii mastaanaa piye jaa
paimaanaa to kyaa chiiz hai maikhaanaa piye jaa

kar garq may-o-jaam Gam-e-gardish-e-ayyaam
ab ai dil-e-naakaam tuu maikhaanaa piye jaa

[garq=drown; Gam-e-gardish-e-ayyaam=sorrow of everyday life]

may-noshii ke aadaab se aagaah nahii tuu
jis tarah kahe saaqii-e-maikhaanaa piye jaa

[may-noshii=drinking; aadaab=ways/traditions/rituals]
[aagaah=acquainted with]

is bastii me hai vahashat-e-mastii hii se hastii
diivaanaa ban aur baadaa-e-diivaanaa piye jaa

maikhaane ke hagaame hai kuchh der ke mehamaa
hai subah qariib "Akhtar" divaanaa piye jaa