jis ki jo hai talab tamasha hai
ye bhi kitna ajab tamasha hai

aankh iman lai manzar par
dil ye kahta hai sab tamasha hai

main ne duniya ke rang dekhe hain
mere aage ye sab tamasha hai

dekhte hain jo hum kisi ki taraf
dekhne ka sabab tamasha hai

wo bhi dikhlae jo ki hai hi nahin
teri duniya ajab tamasha hai

la-makan se ye dahr tak ka safar
tab tamasha tha ab tamasha hai

jo tha jina adan mein ji aae
zindagi kya hai ab tamasha hai

bab-e-alam mein kun kaha pahle
phir kaha zer-e-lab tamasha hai

kyon sar-e-tur dekhne jaen
tere jaisa wo kab tamasha hai

kyon na aakhir hon tujh se dad-talab
hum ko karna hi jab tamasha hai

sochiye to tamasha-e-hasti
kis qadar be-sabab tamasha hai

ma-siwa did jis mein tu ho faqat
baqi jo kuchh hai sab tamasha hai

parda-dari se kaam kya lije
'shams' hona hi jab tamasha hai