مَیں شعر کے اَسرار سے محرم نہیں لیکن

Main sher ke asraar se mehram nahin lekin

یہ نکتہ ہے، تاریخِ اُمَم جس کی ہے تفصیل

Yeh nukta hai, tareekh-e-umam jis ki hai tafseel

I am not privy to the secrets of poetry, but
This is a point, of which the history of nations is the detail.

وہ شعر کہ پیغامِ حیاتِ اَبدی ہے

Woh sher ke paigham-e-hayat-e-abadi hai

یا نغمۂ جبریل ہے یا بانگِ سرافیل!

Ya naghma-e-Jibreel hai ya baang-e-Israfeel!

That verse which is the message of eternal life
Is either the song of Gabriel or the trumpet call of Israfil!

Context

This couplet elevates the function of poetry beyond mere aesthetics, suggesting it holds a profound, even divine, significance for the destiny of nations. By invoking Jibrael, the angel of revelation, and Israfil, the angel of resurrection, the poem posits that true poetry either conveys eternal truths that awaken life, akin to divine messages, or serves as a powerful call to awakening or reckoning for entire civilizations. This reflects a philosophical tradition in Urdu poetry, particularly prevalent in the 20th century, which sees poetry as a catalyst for societal and spiritual transformation.