zabt ki had se guzar kar khar to hona hi tha
shiddat-e-gham ka magar izhaar to hona hi tha

aaine kab tak salamat rahte shahr-e-sang mein
ek din patthar koi bedar to hona hi tha

khak mein milna hi tha ek din ghurur-e-zindagi
ret ki diwar ko mismar to hona hi tha

kis tarah karte nazar-andaz apne aap ko
ek na ek din zindagi se pyar to hona hi tha

koi aamada na tha rahen badalne ke liye
rasta millat ka phir dushwar to hona hi tha

jis taraf dekha udhar apne hi the khanjar-ba-kaf
phir mere isar ko talwar to hona hi tha

khwahishen be-rabt thin be-zauq tha dast-e-talab
aisi hajat ka sila inkar to hona hi tha

ek din kahna hi tha ek dusre ko alwidaa
aakhirash 'salim' juda ek bar to hona hi tha