aaj phir shaKH se gire patte

aaj phir shāḳh se gire patte

aur miTTī meñ mil ga.e patte

jaane kis dasht kī talāsh meñ haiñ

regzāroñ meñ chīḳhte patte

kal jinheñ āsmāñ pe dekhā thā

aaj pātāl meñ mile patte

apnī āvāz hī se ḳhauf-zada

shāḳh-dar-shāḳh kāñpte patte

mujh ko ik barg-e-ḳhushk bhī na milā

ab kahāñ baaġh meñ hare patte

saare gulshan ko de ga.e sonā

aur ḳhud ḳhaak ban ga.e patte

'kaif' vīrānī-e-gulistāñ bhī

ba.az auqāt le uḌe patte

aaj phir shaKH se gire patte

aur miTTi mein mil gae patte

jaane kis dasht ki talash mein hain

regzaron mein chiKHte patte

kal jinhen aasman pe dekha tha

aaj patal mein mile patte

apni aawaz hi se KHauf-zada

shaKH-dar-shaKH kanpte patte

mujh ko ek barg-e-KHushk bhi na mila

ab kahan bagh mein hare patte

sare gulshan ko de gae sona

aur KHud KHak ban gae patte

'kaif' virani-e-gulistan bhi

baz auqat le uDe patte