tha wo yaron mein apna yar bahut

thā vo yāroñ meñ apnā yaar bahut

ik usī se thā ham ko pyaar bahut

shahr-e-jāñ meñ 'ajīb raunaq thī

dil se dil kā thā kārobār bahut

vo bhī kuchh muztarib sā rahtā thā

ham bhī rahte the be-qarār bahut

kaisā nashsha thā bazm meñ us kī

aaj tak hai hameñ ḳhumār bahut

ek ThanDak thī us kī chhāoñ meñ

ik shajar thā vo sāya-dār bahut

us ke dam se thā e'tibār-e-suḳhan

thā suḳhan kā vo e'tibār bahut

ik taraf thā hujūm-e-nauha-garāñ

ek jānib the ġham-gusār bahut

ḳhema-e-dushmanāñ kī raunaq haiñ

āj-kal us ke jāñ-nisār bahut

‘āshiqān-e-salīm-ahmad ko

jāntā hai ye ḳhāksār bahut

dostī kyā hai nisf dhokā hai

is kā karnā na e'tibār bahut

dāstāneñ to haiñ tavīl magar

ham ne bartā hai iḳhtisār bahut

ham ko iqlīm-e-shā'irī kā 'azīm'

yaad aatā hai shahryār bahut

tha wo yaron mein apna yar bahut

ek usi se tha hum ko pyar bahut

shahr-e-jaan mein 'ajib raunaq thi

dil se dil ka tha karobar bahut

wo bhi kuchh muztarib sa rahta tha

hum bhi rahte the be-qarar bahut

kaisa nashsha tha bazm mein us ki

aaj tak hai hamein KHumar bahut

ek ThanDak thi us ki chhaon mein

ek shajar tha wo saya-dar bahut

us ke dam se tha e'tibar-e-suKHan

tha suKHan ka wo e'tibar bahut

ek taraf tha hujum-e-nauha-garan

ek jaanib the gham-gusar bahut

KHema-e-dushmanan ki raunaq hain

aaj-kal us ke jaan-nisar bahut

‘ashiqan-e-salim-ahmad ko

jaanta hai ye KHaksar bahut

dosti kya hai nisf dhoka hai

is ka karna na e'tibar bahut

dastanen to hain tawil magar

hum ne barta hai iKHtisar bahut

hum ko iqlim-e-sha'iri ka 'azim'

yaad aata hai shahryar bahut