sahra base hue the hamari nigah mein
khema laga na pae hum aab-o-giyah mein

sadiyan hamari rah ko roke khadi rahin
aur zindagi guzarti rahi sal-o-mah mein

bas jate hum kahin bhi samundar ke darmiyan
aaya magar na koi jazira hi rah mein

ek bar hath lag gae us andhi bhid ke
wapas na laut pae hum apni panah mein

waqt aur maqam se na kabhi hum guzar sake
guzre maqam-o-waqt faqat rasm-o-rah mein

kuchh der zer-e-pa jo thaharti koi zamin
hum bhi qayam karte kisi jae-gah mein

'betab' pastiyon se nikal hi na pae hum
kya kya bulandiyan thin hamari nigah mein