zaban ko tarjuman-e-gham banaun kis tarah 'kaifi'
main barg-e-gul se angare uthaun kis tarah 'kaifi'

samajh mein kis ki aae raaz mere hichkichane ka
andhere mein chala karta hai har nawak zamane ka

nigah-e-mast ki allah-re masum takiden
mujhe hai hukm saz-e-muflisi par gungunane ka

main saz-e-muflisi par gungunaun kis tarah 'kaifi'
hansi bhi meri nauha hai mera naghma bhi matam hai

junun bhi mujh se barham hai khirad bhi mujh se barham hai
sulagta shauq pighalte walwale jalti tamannaen

zamin meri jahannam hai falak mera jahannam hai
khayali jannaton mein baith jaun kis tarah 'kaifi'

ye tauq-e-bandagi wo phul si gardan maaz-allah
wo shahd-alud lab aur talkhi-e-shewan maaz-allah

kamal-e-husn aur ye inkisar-e-ishq are tauba
wo nazuk hath mera gosha-e-daman maaz-allah

jhatak kar gosha-e-daman chhudaun kis tarah 'kaifi'
nawed-e-subh sunta hi nahin rangin khwab us ka

ghira jata hai zulmat-rez kirnon mein shabab us ka
mujhe fursat nahin ranginiyon mein dub jaane ki

use deta ye dhoka e'tibar-e-intikhab us ka
haqiqat mast aaankhon ko dikhaun kis tarah 'kaifi'

fana mein huzn-dida zindagi zam hoti jati hai
thaki nabzon ki khasta zarb maddham hoti jati hai

ye armanon ka mausam ye meri girti hui sehhat
andheri raat aur lau shama ki kam hoti jati hai

shabistan-e-wafa ko jagmagaun kis tarah 'kaifi'
nirali jast karna hai nae raste pe chalna hai

nae shoalon mein tapna hai nae sanche mein dhalna hai
yahi do chaar sansen jo abhi mujh ko sambhaale hain

inhin do chaar sanson mein zamane ko badalna hai
inhen bhi sard giton mein ganwaun kis tarah 'kaifi'

pareshan qafile ne ab nishan manzil ka paya hai
dhundlakon ke udhar ek surkh tara jhilmilaya hai

chale hain hanpte insan nai duniya basane ko
bahut aise hain in mein jin ko khud main ne badhaya hai

main khud hi raste se laut aaun kis tarah 'kaifi'