tamasha mere aage

maiñ shahr-e-karachi se kahāñ bahr-e-safar jā.ūñ

jī chāhtā hai ab maiñ isī shahr meñ mar jā.ūñ

is shahr-e-nigārāñ ko jo chhoḌūñ to kidhar jā.ūñ

sahrā mire pīchhe hai to dariyā mire aage

is shahr meñ kuchh husn kā me.aar nahīñ hai

beauty kī zarūrat sar-e-bāzār nahīñ hai

yūsuf kā yahāñ koī ḳharīdār nahīñ hai

show-case meñ baiThī hai zuleḳhā mire aage

is baaġh meñ kuchh qadr nahīñ naġhmagarī kī

ulTī hai yahāñ chaal nasīm-e-saharī kī

had ho ga.ī kaj-fahmī o āshufta-sarī kī

bulbul ko burā kahtā hai kavvā mire aage

rishvat bhī yahāñ ek maraz hai muta.addī

apnā to yahī pesha hai ābā.ī-o-jaddī

lā bechūñgā mansūḳh-shuda noToñ kī raddī

jo maiñ ne kiyā thā vahī aayā mire aage

ik chiiz hai is shahr-e-karachi kā gadhā bhī

hushiyār bhī ahmaq bhī purānā bhī nayā bhī

kam-baḳht ko aatī nahīñ tahzīb zarā bhī

kartā hai sar-e-bazm vo ġhamza mire aage

hotel meñ yahāñ jaao to āvāz yahī aa.e

is bhaa.ī kā do aanā udhar ek kaḌak chaa.e

is seTh kā ik gurda chachā-jān ke do paa.e

murġhī kā jo order hai use chūlhe meñ Daalo

is seTh kā bhejā zarā jaldī se nikālo

ik miiT fry karo ik anDā ubālo

ye seTh jo baiThā hai ise qiima banāo

sāhib kī sirī ThanDī hai kuchh aañch dikhāo

chaa.e meñ shakar maaro ise lambā pakāo

mere ne jo bolā hai vahī mere ko laao

urdu meñ ye farmātā hai bairā mire aage

hotā hai shab-o-roz tamāshā mire aage

main shahr-e-karachi se kahan bahr-e-safar jaun

ji chahta hai ab main isi shahr mein mar jaun

is shahr-e-nigaran ko jo chhoDun to kidhar jaun

sahra mere pichhe hai to dariya mere aage

is shahr mein kuchh husn ka mear nahin hai

beauty ki zarurat sar-e-bazar nahin hai

yusuf ka yahan koi KHaridar nahin hai

show-case mein baiThi hai zuleKHa mere aage

is bagh mein kuchh qadr nahin naghmagari ki

ulTi hai yahan chaal nasim-e-sahari ki

had ho gai kaj-fahmi o aashufta-sari ki

bulbul ko bura kahta hai kawwa mere aage

rishwat bhi yahan ek maraz hai mutaddi

apna to yahi pesha hai aabai-o-jaddi

la bechunga mansuKH-shuda noTon ki raddi

jo main ne kiya tha wahi aaya mere aage

ek chiz hai is shahr-e-karachi ka gadha bhi

hushiyar bhi ahmaq bhi purana bhi naya bhi

kam-baKHt ko aati nahin tahzib zara bhi

karta hai sar-e-bazm wo ghamza mere aage

hotel mein yahan jao to aawaz yahi aae

is bhai ka do aana udhar ek kaDak chae

is seTh ka ek gurda chacha-jaan ke do pae

murghi ka jo order hai use chulhe mein Dalo

is seTh ka bheja zara jaldi se nikalo

ek miT fry karo ek anDa ubaalo

ye seTh jo baiTha hai ise qima banao

sahib ki siri ThanDi hai kuchh aanch dikhao

chae mein shakar maro ise lamba pakao

mere ne jo bola hai wahi mere ko lao

urdu mein ye farmata hai baira mere aage

hota hai shab-o-roz tamasha mere aage