shadmani ka kabhi gham ka kabhi josh raha
ek sauda raha jab tak ki mujhe hosh raha

juz teri yaad ke sab dil se faramosh raha
marte marte diwane ko ye hosh raha

rukh-e-pur-nur se bas un ka ulatna tha naqab
kaun kambakht tha aisa ki jise hosh raha

ye bhi ehsan hai jo us ne na diya koi jawab
shauq-e-ummid ka hami lab-e-khamosh raha

be-dhadak samne mahshar ki wo aana tera
dekh lena jo kisi ek ko bhi hosh raha

kis se fariyaad-e-sitam karte mila jab ki na tu
tu mila jab to sitam tera faramosh raha

raaz-e-sar-basta-e-mai-khana na khulne paya
aashna-e-lab-e-saghar lab-e-mai-nosh raha

dard rah rah ke mere dil mein utha karta hai
tera ehsan ki tujhe main na faramosh raha

bar-e-ehsan hai mere sar pe tera o qatil
sar juda hone pe bhi main na subuk-dosh raha

dard uthte hi tadapne lagana mahram-e-raaz
jo ada se teri waqif tha wo khamosh raha

kya kahun maut ne kis raaz ki di aa ke khabar
baat hi kuchh thi wo aisi ki main khamosh raha

jaan 'betab' ki aakhir shab-e-tanhai ne li
tu kahan sham se o wada-faramosh raha