jo uThi thi meri taraf kabhi dil-e-motabar ki talash mein

jo uThī thī merī taraf kabhī dil-e-mo'tabar kī talāsh meñ

merī saarī umr guzar ga.ī usī ik nazar kī talāsh meñ

ġham-e-ishq hī ko maiñ kyā kahūñ tire husn ko bhī nahīñ sukūñ

kabhī is nazar kī talāsh meñ kabhī us nazar kī talāsh meñ

jo yahī junūñ hai to mil chukī hameñ manzil-e-ġham-e-āshiqī

usī rahguzar se guzar ga.e usī rahguzar kī talāsh meñ

sar-e-manzil aa ke patā chalā ki qadam qadam pe fareb thā

kahīñ ham-safar kī umiid meñ kahīñ ham-safar kī talāsh meñ

use vasl kaisā haqīqatan ġham-e-hijr kā bhī to haq nahīñ

jo tamām raat guzār de magar ik sahar kī talāsh meñ

hai ajiib qismat-e-'kaif' bhī ye milā hai hāsil-e-bandagī

ki mazāq-e-sajda bhī kho diyā kisī sañg-e-dar kī talāsh meñ

jo uThi thi meri taraf kabhi dil-e-mo'tabar ki talash mein

meri sari umr guzar gai usi ek nazar ki talash mein

gham-e-ishq hi ko main kya kahun tere husn ko bhi nahin sukun

kabhi is nazar ki talash mein kabhi us nazar ki talash mein

jo yahi junun hai to mil chuki hamein manzil-e-gham-e-ashiqi

usi rahguzar se guzar gae usi rahguzar ki talash mein

sar-e-manzil aa ke pata chala ki qadam qadam pe fareb tha

kahin ham-safar ki umid mein kahin ham-safar ki talash mein

use wasl kaisa haqiqatan gham-e-hijr ka bhi to haq nahin

jo tamam raat guzar de magar ek sahar ki talash mein

hai ajib qismat-e-'kaif' bhi ye mila hai hasil-e-bandagi

ki mazaq-e-sajda bhi kho diya kisi sang-e-dar ki talash mein