tamam umr ki tanhaiyon pe bhaari thi
wo ek sham tere sath jo guzari thi

ufuq pe likhta raha aaftab tahriren
magar bayaz-e-zamin raushni se aari thi

safir-e-subh ki aahat pe ho gai bedar
ghunudgi mein jo khwabida shab-khumari thi

usi ne kar diya paiwast pith mein khanjar
wo shakhs jis ki rifaqat se pith bhaari thi

dil-o-dimagh ne phir hashiye tarash liye
kai dinon se tabiat mein na-gawari thi

jo baat tark-e-talluq ke mod tak pahunchi
khata tumhaari nahin thi khata hamari thi

jawab de diye 'salim' hayat ne mujh ko
magar sawaliya ek ek jawab-dari thi