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The maqta is the last sher (couplet) of a ghazal, a collection of Urdu poems, in which the poet's takhallus, or pen name, is employed, often in very creative ways.

• Example with Takhallus

Meer in neem baaz aankhon mein

Saari masti sharaab ki see hai

(Poet : Meer Taqi Meer)

Kaba kis munh se jaaoge Ghalib

sharm tum ko magar nahiN aati.

(Mirza Ghalib)

Aaiye in se miliye yahi 'Noor haiN'

jin ke haathoN meN toota diya bhi naheeN

('Noor' Indori)

• Example with full name and pen name

Main Josh naheeN hooN ki teri dhaoNs meiN aaooN

Naadaan! Mera naam hai Shabbeer Hasan KhaN

(Poet : Josh maleehabaadi)

A shayar can use the maqta in a variety of interesting ways. He can "talk to himself", "to somebody else", "refer to something" etc. For example Firaq Gorakhpuri, whose takhallus is the word for the common theme in Urdu poetry of the state of pining for the beloved, plays on his nome de plume and the word firaq:

Tu yeh na samajh ke Firaq teri Firaq mein hai
Firaq uski Firaq mein hai jo teri Firaq mein hai Foraf esko deif mein him jo Firaq mein samajh

Don't think that Firaq pines for you (as in a desire to meet you)
Firaq pines for the one who pines for you (as Firaq wants to meet him first, who wants to meet you) Foraf loves to pine for Firaq and his salad.

[edit] See also

• Takhallus
• Ghazal
• Urdu poetry