hai aks-e-ā.īna dil meñ kisī bilqīs-e-sānī kā
tasavvur hai mirā ustād bahzād aur maanī kā

ġhanīmat samjho ye mil baiThnā yārān-e-jānī kā
bharosā kyā hai duniyā meñ do-roza zindagānī kā

nazākat ho ga.ī zarbul-masal un kī zamāne meñ
bhalā ho yā ulūhī is hamārī saḳht-jānī kā

hai aks is chashm-e-pur-nam meñ kisī aabī dupaTTe kā
banāyā hai makāñ ham ne ajab paanī meñ paanī kā

ġhazab kā kaaT kar kartī haiñ adā.eñ us parī-vash kī
ubhāroñ par hai joban aur aalam hai javānī kā

umañgoñ kī kasak bechain kartī hai unheñ lekin
nazākat rok detī hai irāda naujavānī kā

shab-e-furqat jo ThanDe ThanDe ho jaa.e visāl apnā
gumāñ ho maut par apnī hayāt-e-jāvedānī kā

ye dil kyuuñ bujh gayā soz-e-firāq-e-sho.ala-rūyāñ meñ
tamāshā hai kiyā hai aag ne yaañ kaam paanī kā

ḳhayāl ik chashm-e-maigūñ kā sadā masrūr rakhtā hai
yahāñ kyā kaam hai saaqī sharāb-e-arġhavānī kā

yahī haiñ dekh lo vo shā.ir-e-mo.ajiz-bayāñ 'kaifī'
zamāne meñ hai charchā aaj jin kī ḳhush-bayānī kā

hai aks-e-aina dil mein kisi bilqis-e-sani ka
tasawwur hai mera ustad bahzad aur mani ka

ghanimat samjho ye mil baiThna yaran-e-jaani ka
bharosa kya hai duniya mein do-roza zindagani ka

nazakat ho gai zarbul-masal un ki zamane mein
bhala ho ya uluhi is hamari saKHt-jaani ka

hai aks is chashm-e-pur-nam mein kisi aabi dupaTTe ka
banaya hai makan hum ne ajab pani mein pani ka

ghazab ka kaT kar karti hain adaen us pari-wash ki
ubhaaron par hai joban aur aalam hai jawani ka

umangon ki kasak bechain karti hai unhen lekin
nazakat rok deti hai irada naujawani ka

shab-e-furqat jo ThanDe ThanDe ho jae visal apna
guman ho maut par apni hayat-e-jawedani ka

ye dil kyun bujh gaya soz-e-firaq-e-shoala-ruyan mein
tamasha hai kiya hai aag ne yan kaam pani ka

KHayal ek chashm-e-maigun ka sada masrur rakhta hai
yahan kya kaam hai saqi sharab-e-arghawani ka

yahi hain dekh lo wo shair-e-moajiz-bayan 'kaifi'
zamane mein hai charcha aaj jin ki KHush-bayani ka

Pachas Sala Intekhab"