ishq ki duniya mein kya kya hum ko saughaten milin
suni subhen roti shamen jagti raaten milin

ya barasti dhup mein tapte sulagte din mile
ya rida-e-dard mein lipti hui raaten milin

kuchh sabahat kuchh malahat thi nasib-e-ashiqan
aansuon ke rang mein namkin barsaten milin

gah ujad jaane ka matam gah bichhad jaane ka shor
dil ke andar jab milin nauhon ki baraaten milin

khokhle chehron pe sim-o-zar ki thin aaraishen
ahl-e-mani ko magar lafzon ki khairaaten milin

khelne wale to bas das bis shatranji rahe
dekhne walon ko shah-maton pe shah-maten milin

zalzale aae to jo paikar the sang-o-khisht ke
un ke honton par duaen aur munajaten milin

ishq ko fikr-o-shuur-e-zindagi darkar tha
aur use na-pukhta zehnon ki karamaten milin

hum unhi ko sher ka qalib ata karte rahe
be-sada honton pe jo bikhri hui baaten milin

kis tarah kahte 'karam' duniya se apne dil ka haal
doston se bhi adhuri si mulaqaten milin