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