5 Urdu couplets and shers with qafas

qafas(m): cage, prison

Description of qafas: Qafas is an Urdu word meaning a bird's cage, coop, or lattice, often symbolizing confinement or the human body metaphorically. Unlike a simple enclosure, it evokes imprisonment with intricate bars that restrict freedom while allowing glimpses of the outside world. Differs from broader terms like "zincir" , as qafas implies a structured, visible restraint rather than binding. In Urdu poetry, it frequently represents emotional or existential captivity, as in Ghalib's

1 / 5: qafas

kuch is andaaz se sayyaad ne azaad kiya

jo chale chhuT ke qafas se

wo giraftaar chale

in such a way the captor

has set them free

they flew out of the cage

but are hostages still

Mubarak Azimabadi (4)

andaaz (m) (10)

mannerism, style

sayyaad (m) (8)

captor, hunter

azaad (1)

free, freedom

qafas (m) (5)

cage, prison

giraftaar (m) (1)

arrest, confine

Theme: Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (61)

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2 / 5: qafas

zabt karta huun to ghuThta hai qafas mein mera dam

aah karta huun to

sayyaad khafa hota hai

if i restrain myself and submit

i suffocate in this cage

if i sigh and complain

my captor becomes irate

Qamar Jalalvi (5)

zabt (m) (1)

restraint, self-control

ghuThta (m) (1)

suffocate

qafas (m) (5)

cage, prison

dam (m) (9)

moment, breath

aah (m) (7)

sigh

sayyaad (m) (8)

captor, hunter

khafa (m) (6)

angry, upset

Theme: Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (61)

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3 / 5: qafas

ho ruuh ke taain jism se kis tarah mohabbat?

taair ko qafas se bhi

kahin ho hai mohabbat?

can the spirit truly

fall in love with the body?

can a bird ever feel

love for its own prison?

Taban Abdul Hai (6)

ruuh (m) (5)

soul, spirit

taain (m) (1)

towards

jism (m) (6)

body

tarah (16)

type, like, similar to

mohabbat (f) (41)

love

taair (m) (1)

bird

qafas (m) (5)

cage, prison

Theme: Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (61)

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4 / 5: qafas

aashiyaan jal gaya gulsitaan lut gaya hum qafas se nikal kar kidhar jaayenge

itne manoos sayyaad se ho gaye

ab rihaayi milegi to mar jayenge

home burned, the garden destroyed

where will we go, getting out of the cage

having gotten accustomed to the captor

we will only die if we get freedom now

Raaz Allahabadi (3)

aashiyaan (f) (3)

home

jal (m) (4)

burn

qafas (m) (5)

cage, prison

nikal (9)

come out, emerge

manoos (m) (1)

habituated, get used to

sayyaad (m) (8)

captor, hunter

rihaayi (f) (1)

freedom

Theme: Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (61)

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5 / 5: qafas

kuchh qafas ki teeliyon se chhan rahaa hai noor sa

kuchh faza kuchh

hasrat-e-parvaaz ki baaten karo

through the bars of the cage

some light is seeping through

speak of the expanse

speak of the desire to fly

Firaq Gorakphuri (Raghupati Sahay) (12)

1969: Jnanpith

1997: India Commemorative Stamp

qafas (m) (5)

cage, prison

teeliyon (f) (1)

bars

noor (m) (10)

light, radiance

faza (f) (3)

environment, expanse

hasrat (f) (11)

desire, mostly unmet

parvaaz (m) (3)

flight

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Featured Themes

Home, Country, & Belonging (30)

Love, Passion, and Longing (113)

Miscellany (44)

Beauty, Charm, & Union (109)

Religion, Reason, & Tradition (70)

Life, Learning, & Living (127)

Quest, Journey, & Destination (54)

Creativity, Philosophy, & Enlightenment (40)

Voice, Expression, & Language (78)

Hopes, Aspirations, & Dreams (37)

Heart, Mind, & Memory (66)

Friends, Family, & Community (139)

Nature, World & Universe (50)

Oppression, Rebellion, & Freedom (61)

Grit, Resilience, & Courage (58)

Loneliness, Separation, & Grief (118)

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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qafas(m): cage, prison

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