zindagi maut ke pahlu mein bhali lagti hai
ghas is qabr pe kuchh aur hari lagti hai

roz kaghaz pe banata hun main qadmon ke nuqush
koi chalta nahin aur ham-safari lagti hai

aankh manus-e-tamasha nahin hone pati
kaisi surat hai ki har roz nai lagti hai

ghas mein jazb hue honge zamin ke aansu
panw rakhta hun to halki si nami lagti hai

sach to kah dun magar is daur ke insanon ko
baat jo dil se nikalti hai buri lagti hai

mere shishe mein utar aai hai jo sham-e-firaq
wo kisi shahr-e-nigaran ki pari lagti hai

bund bhar ashk bhi tapka na kisi ke gham mein
aaj har aankh koi abr-e-tahi lagti hai

shor-e-tiflan bhi nahin hai na raqibon ka hujum
laut aao ye koi aur gali lagti hai

ghar mein kuchh kam hai ye ehsas bhi hota hai 'salim'
ye bhi khulta nahin kis shai ki kami lagti hai