barahna shakhon pe kab fakhtaen aati hain
main wo shajar hun ki jis mein balaen aati hain

ye kaun mere lahu mein diye jalata hai
badan se chhan ke ye kaisi shuaen aati hain

mujhe sanad ki zarurat nahin hai naqid se
meri ghazal pe hasinon ki raen aati hain

khuda se jin ka talluq nahin bacha koi
safar mein yaad unhen bhi duaen aati hain

unhen khabar hi nahin kab ka bujh chuka hun main
meri talash mein ab tak hawaen aati hain

main chikhta hun kisi dasht-e-be-aman mein 'salim'
phir us ke ba'd musalsal sadaen aati hain