use khud ko badal lena gawara bhi nahin hota
hamara aisi duniya mein guzara bhi nahin hota

hamein is mod par le aate hain ye khun ke rishte
ki jine ke alawa aur chaara bhi nahin hota

ye sare chand suraj un ke qadmon mein hi rahte hain
hamare hath mein kyun ek tara bhi nahin hota

dubo detin hamein dariya-e-mah-o-sal ki maujen
is ek lamhe ka jo hasil sahaara bhi nahin hota

tajjub hai ki hum akasr wahin par dub jate hain
jahan se dur aankhon mein kinara bhi nahin hota

sabhi ko shahar apna dilkash-o-dilchasp lagta hai
agarche wo samarqand-o-bukhara bhi nahin hota

ye kin na-ashna logon ki basti mein chale aae
sukhan kaisa kahin se ek ishaara bhi nahin hota

mukhalif mausam-e-dil hi nahin hota masafat mein
muafiq kuchh 'salim' apna sitara bhi nahin hota