About: Maqta

The maqta (Urdu: مقطع) is the last sher of a ghazal, a collection of Urdu poems and the poet's takhallus, or pen name, is usually employed in it, often in very creative ways. 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 pen name and the word firaq: Roman Urdu: Tu yeh na samajh ke Firaq teri Firaq mein haiFiraq uski Firaq mein hai jo teri Firaq mein hai