Not Mir, nor Meera,
Not Firaq — nor Faiz!
Pick a name from Madeira,
A name — to amaze!

Not Jafri or Barelvi,
Not Faraz — nor Daagh,
“How exotic — you want it?
A shayar from Prague!”

Not Quadri, not Azmi,
Not Momin, not Raaz!
“Too fast? — Well, pause me!”
“Let’s repeat it — applause!”

The Josh — of Akbar!
The Jigar — of Zauq!
“Now, dip your nib deeply,
into the depths of your heart!”

Not Aatish, nor Nasikh,
Not Jurat, nor Sahar!
Not Bekhud, nor Rangin,
The Hasrat of Dard – e –Dil?

Not Khusro, nor Bhopali,
Not Bani, nor Jalali,
The freckles of human follies,
With words returned in volleys!

Not Mehroom,
Not Hamdard!
Not Zakir — not —
Mirza Ghalib!!!

Your name should aim,
For the sky — like Akash,
Though literally — Falaq!
But to turn heads — “Qalaf”!

[ AVAILABLE ON WIKI! ]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qalaf

Make it your own! 🙂

Background – { This poem was written as an answer to a question by a budding poet (Akash Tiwari) – What name should I use for my pen name as Urdu poet?}

— Jatinder Singh , the lousy poet

{ Picture Credit : Calligraphy nibs }

© Written 23-Oct-2017