rutba-e-dard ko jab apna hunar pahunchega
ham-nashin zabt-e-sukhan ka bhi asar pahunchega

be-sadaraat se aajiz hai mera dast-e-junun
koi din ta-ba-gareban-e-sahar pahunchega

khinch ke rah mujh se magar zabt ki talqin na kar
ab meri aah se tujh ko na zarar pahunchega

baaton baaton mein sab ahwal-e-judai mat puchh
kuchh kahunga to tere dil pe asar pahunchega

ranj uthate hain mere zabt-e-fughan se ham-sae
le ke tum tak koi marne ki khabar pahunchega

mere marne se gham-e-ishq na mar jaega
mujh ko chhodega to gham-khwar ke ghar pahunchega

apne gesu to sambhaalo ki khule jate hain
warna ilzam mere shauq ke sar pahunchega

tum ko jina hai to kuchh aib bhi lazim hain 'shahab'
zindagi ko to na faizan-e-hunar pahunchega