Shayari (Shaa-yaari) :
Shayari is a broad term for Urdu poetry (Ur-doo shaa-yaari). It includes many kinds of poetic expression, like shers, ghazals (ghuh-zul), nazms (nuz-um), etc.
Shayari can be about anything – love (pyaar), loss (gam), beauty (khubsurti), nature (qudrat), philosophy (falsafa), and social issues (samajik mudde).
It often uses rich metaphors ( التشبيه, tashbeeh), similes ( تشبيه مصرحه, tashbeeh musarrahah), and wordplay (لفظی بازی, lafzi baazi) to create a strong and beautiful image.
Sher (Sher):
A sher is a specific type of poem within shayeri. It’s a two-line verse (do-line ki shayri) with a complete thought or idea.
Shers often have a rhyme scheme (tal mel) and follow a meter (syllable pattern – chhand).
They aim to capture a single, powerful feeling (zor ka ehsaas) or observation (nigah) in a short and sweet way.
Analogy (Analogy) :
Imagine shayeri as a big garden (bada baghaan), and shers are the individual flowers (phool) inside it. The garden (shayeri) offers a variety of flowers (shers) with different colors, shapes, and fragrances (themes and styles).
Exploring Shayari:
Websites:
Rekhta Foundation https://rekhtafoundation.org/ – A treasure trove of Urdu poetry with collections from various poets.
Kavita Kosh http://kavitakosh.org/ – Another great resource for Urdu poetry, including translations.
Poets to Explore:
Mirza Ghalib
Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Harivansh Rai Bachchan (Hindi Shayari)
Gulzar (Hindi Shayari)
Additional Points :
* Not all shayeri is based on shers. Nazms, for example, are longer poems without a set rhyme scheme or meter.
* But shers are a very popular and recognizable form of shayeri, often used for expressing love, sorrow, or philosophical ideas.
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