hum ne jab dard bhari apni kahani likkhi
log kahne lage rudad purani likkhi

main ne ek ped samundar ke jazire se liya
aur chattan pe pani ki rawani likkhi

ajnabi tarz liye main nahin aaya hun yahan
dastan apni tumhaari hi zabani likkhi

chashm-e-mahbub ko nargis ka laqab tu ne diya
main ne sheron mein magar raat ki rani likkhi

kaun sa waqt amal ka hai jawani ke siwa?
nind kab aati hai? puchha to jawani likkhi

raat jab aai to din bhar ka fasana likkha
jab chali baad-e-sahar sham suhani likkhi

bagh-e-firdaus ki lori main sunata kaise?
meri qismat mein thi aashufta-bayani likkhi

khushk tha mera qalam kuchh nahin likh pata tha
likhne baitha to badi ram kahani likkhi

tum ne jab harf ko khwabon ka safar kah dala
main ne bhi lafz ki tabir-e-maani likkhi

narm-o-nazuk tha 'karamat' tere sheron ka mizaj
waqt padne pe magar shoala-bayani likkhi