maqam aur bhi aaenge la-makan ke baad
zarur honge jahan aur is jahan ke baad

shikasta par the mere aur khatm thi parwaz
ek aasman tha baqi ek aasman ke baad

jo kaamyabi mili wo hamein uburi mili
kuchh imtihan the baqi har imtihan ke baad

wo jaisa tai tha wahan kuchh bhi to na tha aisa
nishan koi nahin tha us ek nishan ke baad

zawal aisa ki sare faraaz past hue
nasheb-e-wahm bahut tha hadd-e-guman ke baad

tawaqqo us ki thi mahdud main bhi chup hi raha
safar ke aur bhi tohfe the armughan ke baad

wo pahla zina tha manzil jise abas jaana
kuchh aagahi ke marahil the aur dhyan ke baad

ek us ka tutna goya shikast meri thi
chala na tir koi mujh se us kaman ke baad

raha wo josh na wo dad hi rahi 'betab'
sukut rah gaya phir khatm dastan ke baad