dhadkanen ban ke jo sine mein raha karta tha
kya ajab shakhs tha jo mujh mein jiya karta tha

nakhun-e-waqt ne har naqsh khurach dala hai
mera chehra meri pahchan hua karta tha

kai honton pe hama-waqt jami rahti thi
ek dariya meri aankhon mein thama karta tha

ek talatum tha tah-e-ab sukut-e-dariya
dil-e-khamosh mein ek shor raha karta tha

murtaish hota tha jab khama-e-angusht kabhi
kya kya qirtas-e-khala par main likha karta tha

zehn-o-dil is liye sargarm-e-amal rahte the
rahnumai meri har waqt khuda karta tha

aabla-paiyan karti thin agar dil-shikani
hausla phir rah-e-ummid ko wa karta tha

ho gaya nazr bil-akhir meri haq-goi ki
ek sar jo kabhi shanon pe saja karta tha

kya hua aaj ai 'salim' wo shuur-e-baaligh
jo qalam-zad teri tahrir kiya karta tha