mahfil ka buton ki kya kahna hum dil ko jahan gum kar baithe
khud apni pareshani se wahan saman-e-tabassum kar baithe

gharqab to hona tha aakhir tufan na jaane kab aata
khud apna safina le ja kar hum nazr-e-talatum kar baithe

ye ahl-e-sitam ki duniya hai afsana-e-gham hai be-mani
anjam na socha kuchh dil mein aaghaz kahan tum kar baithe

is nazm-e-gulistan par hum ko aati hai hansi bhi rona bhi
phulon ki do-roza zinat par kante bhi tabassum kar baithe

jab marna hai to marna hai zinda rah kar kya karna hai
hum ko jo fana ki yaad aai jine se tasadum kar baithe

wo soz kahan wo saz kahan dil ahl-e-tarab ka tut gaya
mahfil mein ruth ke baithe kya tum khatm tarannum kar baithe

hai sang-dilon ki mahfil mein izhaar-e-dard-e-dil kaisa
ye baat kahan ki thi 'khushtar' aur aa ke kahan tum kar baithe