main dasht-e-zindagi ko chala tha nikhaarne

maiñ dasht-e-zindagī ko chalā thā nikhārne

ik qahqaha lagāyā guzartī bahār ne

guzrā huuñ jab sulagte hue naqsh chhoḌtā

dekhā hai mujh ko ġhaur se har rahguzār ne

mai-kash ne jām-e-zahr hī muñh se lagā liyā

pāgal banā diyā jo nashe ke utaar ne

insān hadd-e-nūr se aage nikal gayā

chhoḌā magar na us ko lahū kī pukār ne

un mah-ruḳhoñ kī ham se jo ye be-ruḳhī rahī

jaanā paḌegā chāñd pe kuchh din guzārne

karte haiñ vo sitāre bhī ab mujh pe chashmakeñ

chamkā diyā jinheñ mirī shab-hā-e-tār ne

un gul-kadoñ ko bhī koī ai kaash dekhtā

jhulsā hai jin ko ātish-e-fasl-e-bahār ne

lā.ūñ kahāñ se un ke liye aur ġham-gusār

jo ġham diye haiñ mujh ko mire ġham-gusār ne

merī sarisht meñ thī mohabbat kī parvarish

mujh ko qalam diyā mire parvardigār ne

baḳhshā hai apne husn kā partav mujhe 'karam'

fitrat ke har jamīl-o-hasīñ shāhkār ne

main dasht-e-zindagi ko chala tha nikhaarne

ek qahqaha lagaya guzarti bahaar ne

guzra hun jab sulagte hue naqsh chhoDta

dekha hai mujh ko ghaur se har rahguzar ne

mai-kash ne jam-e-zahr hi munh se laga liya

pagal bana diya jo nashe ke utar ne

insan hadd-e-nur se aage nikal gaya

chhoDa magar na us ko lahu ki pukar ne

un mah-ruKHon ki hum se jo ye be-ruKHi rahi

jaana paDega chand pe kuchh din guzarne

karte hain wo sitare bhi ab mujh pe chashmaken

chamka diya jinhen meri shab-ha-e-tar ne

un gul-kadon ko bhi koi ai kash dekhta

jhulsa hai jin ko aatish-e-fasl-e-bahaar ne

laun kahan se un ke liye aur gham-gusar

jo gham diye hain mujh ko mere gham-gusar ne

meri sarisht mein thi mohabbat ki parwarish

mujh ko qalam diya mere parwardigar ne

baKHsha hai apne husn ka partaw mujhe 'karam'

fitrat ke har jamil-o-hasin shahkar ne