sare din dasht-e-tajassus mein bhaTak kar so gaya

saare din dasht-e-tajassus meñ bhaTak kar so gayā

shaam kī āġhosh meñ sūraj bhī thak kar so gayā

āḳhir-e-shab maiñ bhī khā kar ḳhvāb-āvar goliyāñ

chand lamhe nashsha-e-ġham se bahak kar so gayā

ye sukūt-e-shām ye hañgāma-e-zehn-e-bashar

ruuh hai bedār lekin jism thak kar so gayā

āḳhir is daur-e-pur-āshob kā har aadmī

ḳhvāb-e-mustaqbil ke jañgal meñ bhaTak kar so gayā

chand din gulshan meñ naġhmāt-e-masarrat chheḌ kar

shāḳh-e-ġham par ruuh kā panchhī chahak kar so gayā

āḳhirash saare chaman ko de ke husn-e-zindagī

maut ke bistar pe har ġhuncha mahak kar so gayā

zindagī bhar ab añdherī raat meñ hai jāgnā

ab to qismat kā sitāra bhī chamak kar so gayā

paikar-e-alfāz meñ ik aag dahkātā huā

kāġhzī sahrā meñ ik sho.ala bhaḌak kar so gayā

'kaif' yuuñ āġhosh-e-fan meñ zehn ko niiñd aa ga.ī

jaise maañ kī god meñ bachcha sisak kar so gayā

sare din dasht-e-tajassus mein bhaTak kar so gaya

sham ki aaghosh mein suraj bhi thak kar so gaya

aaKHir-e-shab main bhi kha kar KHwab-awar goliyan

chand lamhe nashsha-e-gham se bahak kar so gaya

ye sukut-e-sham ye hangama-e-zehn-e-bashar

ruh hai bedar lekin jism thak kar so gaya

aaKHir is daur-e-pur-ashob ka har aadmi

KHwab-e-mustaqbil ke jangal mein bhaTak kar so gaya

chand din gulshan mein naghmat-e-masarrat chheD kar

shaKH-e-gham par ruh ka panchhi chahak kar so gaya

aaKHirash sare chaman ko de ke husn-e-zindagi

maut ke bistar pe har ghuncha mahak kar so gaya

zindagi bhar ab andheri raat mein hai jagna

ab to qismat ka sitara bhi chamak kar so gaya

paikar-e-alfaz mein ek aag dahkata hua

kaghzi sahra mein ek shoala bhaDak kar so gaya

'kaif' yun aaghosh-e-fan mein zehn ko nind aa gai

jaise man ki god mein bachcha sisak kar so gaya