khud apni lau mein tha mehrab-e-jaan mein jalta tha
wo musht-e-khak tha lekin charagh jaisa tha

wo gum hua to mazamin ho gae be-rabt
wahi to tha jo mera markazi hawala tha

mere khayal ki tajsim hai wajud tera
tere liye badi shiddat se main ne socha tha

wo sirf apni hudud-o-quyud ka nikla
us ek shakhs ko kya kya samajh ke chaha tha

makan bana ke use band kar diya warna
ye rasta kisi manzil ko jaane wala tha

ye waqia hai ki hum ne wo ru-e-nadida
baghair minnat-e-chashm-o-nigah dekha tha

muani-e-shab-e-tarik khul rahe the 'salim'
jahan charagh nahin tha wahan ujala tha