1 / 25 : Featured
magar ab ye hai kisi maharabaan ke
tapaak ne bhi rula diya
there was a time when even a thousand
arrows in the heart did not cause me grief
but now even the warm handshake
of a friend makes me weep
thousand
sad
yet, but
well-wisher, friend
cordial spontaneity
make me cry
Theme: Time, Life & Learning (140)
0
0
12
4.2K
2 / 25 : Featured
gul ho gulshan ho
aur tu bhi ho
the season of clouds,
a flask of wine too
the rose, the garden
and you too
0
0
4
2.7K
3 / 25 : Featured
kuch naadaniyan bhi
kiya karo jawan rehne ke liye
just by coloring your hair
nothing will happen, ghalib
do some crazy stuff
to retain your youth
Theme: Time, Life & Learning (140)
0
0
1
2.0K
4 / 25 : Featured
aisi boli wohi bole
jise urdu aaye
when she speaks, from every word
a delightful fragrance
she speaks like those
who know urdu
Theme: Voice, Expression, & Language (84)
0
0
2
5.1K
5 / 25 : Featured
ab sukh ke sapne kya dekhen
jab dukh ka sooraj sar par ho
those nights have gone with the moon
those words have gone with the moon
how can i now see dreams of happiness
with the searing sun of sorrow on my head
Theme: Loneliness, Separation, & Grief (126)
0
0
0
3.8K
6 / 25 : Featured
aaj tak hosh naheen,
hosh naheen, hosh naheen
once i drank a cup
from those intoxicating eyes
till now, i am not conscious
not conscious, not conscious
1959: Sahitya Akademi
0
0
1
2.6K
7 / 25 : Featured
mashuqa ke liye seekhi urdu
urdu mashuqa ho gayi hai
what was our love
and what has it now become?
i learned urdu for my beloved
urdu has now become my beloved
Theme: Voice, Expression, & Language (84)
0
0
0
2.3K
8 / 25 : Featured
ek se apne dil ko
thaam liya
with one hand
she lifted her veil
with the other
i held my heart
Theme: Beauty, Charm, & Union (115)
0
0
0
3.7K
9 / 25 : Featured
hum rahen yuun
tishna-lab paigaam ke
while others in the gathering
are kissing their cups of wine
i remain, lips parched,
for news of you
1
0
8
4.8K
10 / 25 : Featured
baazaar se guzra huun
kharidaar naheen huun
i am in the world
but i am not a seeker of worldly desires
i have passed through the market
but i am not a buyer
2
0
1
3.2K
11 / 25 : Featured
mu-e-aatish deeda hai
halqa meri zanjeer ka
in captivity too, i am ‘ghalib’,
with fire under my feet
i still see the ring of passion
around my shackles
0
0
1
4.7K
12 / 25 : Featured
meri turbat se lagi baithi hai
hasrat meri
even after my death
my love did not leave me
my desires stayed shackled
to my grave
Theme: Time, Life & Learning (140)
0
0
1
3.3K
13 / 25 : Featured
tanhaiyan ke khoaf se
jo shakhs mar gaya
the entire city joined
in the funeral procession
of the one who died
afraid of loneliness
Anonymous
0
0
0
4.7K
14 / 25 : Featured
kyuun tum aasaan samajhte the
mohabbat meri
looking at my condition
she asked, smiling,
why, did you think loving me
would be that easy?
Theme: Loneliness, Separation, & Grief (126)
1
0
2
2.4K
15 / 25 : Featured
jaata kahan hai shama ko
parvaana chhoD kar
where does the heart
separate from its own desires?
where does the moth go
leaving the flame behind?
0
0
2
3.7K
16 / 25 : Featured
zindagi khwahish-e-nakaam
hi karte guzri
with no achievement in life did
my heart capture peace
my life was spent through a
series of unrequited desires
1
0
2
5.0K
17 / 25 : Featured
main apna jaam uThaatha huun
tu kitaab uTha
let’s find out, o priest, where the
lightning comes from
i will raise my glass of wine,
you raise your holy book
1959: Sahitya Akademi
0
0
2
4.0K
18 / 25 : Featured
mera qalam mera saathi
mera humraaz banta raha
even during the storms of time
i kept lighting the lamp of brightness
my pen remained my friend,
my confidant all through
0
0
2
3.9K
19 / 25 : Featured
gulaab apni hi khushbu se
darne lagte hain
tormenting often are
the times of youth
the rose starts to fear
its own fragrance
0
0
0
4.1K
20 / 25 : Featured
aap se phir tum hue
phir tu ka unwaan ho gaye
when love grew beyond a point
it erased all formality
addressing as aap became a tum
which affectionately turned into tu
0
0
1
2.4K
21 / 25 : Featured
us ne jo pher li nazar
main ne bhi jaam rakh diya
even in the intensity of thirst
my dignity of drinking remained
when she turned her face away
i too put down my cup
1
0
0
3.5K
22 / 25 : Featured
Daaka to naheen maara
chori to naheen ki hai
why such clamor
just because i drank some
i haven't assaulted anybody
nor stolen from anyone
Theme: Time, Life & Learning (140)
0
0
4
2.8K
23 / 25 : Featured
har ek ko hai gumaan ke
mukhaatab hamin rahe
oh god, the miraculous expression
of the beloved's eyes
each one thinks he is
the only one being addressed
god
eyes
friend, beloved
miraculous
expressions, narrations
suspicion, doubt
to address
remain
Theme: Beauty, Charm, & Union (115)
0
0
4
4.1K
24 / 25 : Featured
tanhaai mein bhi
apni hi mehfil sajaayi
when I found myself
i found joy even in worldly sorrows
even in solitude
i arranged my own gathering
0
0
1
3.3K
25 / 25 : Featured
tum se to itna ho sakta hai
poochho haal bechaaron ka
they won’t open their mouths
those who love you will say nothing
if it is possible for you, at least
ask the condition of the poor souls
0
0
2
4.2K
Ashaar (couplets) on other themes
Ashaar (couplets) by others
Alfaaz Ki Mehfil is a curated space for timeless poetry celebrating words, emotions, and the enduring beauty of expression. From classic Urdu couplets to modern reflections, it brings together generations of poetic voices that speak of love, longing, hope, and the human soul.
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