Ibn-e-Insha born Sher Muhammad Khan on 15 June 1927 died 11 January 1978, was a Pakistani Leftist Urdu Poet, humorist, travelogue writer and columnist. Along with his poetry, he was regarded one of the best humorists of Urdu. His poetry has a distinctive diction laced with language reminiscent of Amir Khusrao in its use of words and construction that is usually heard in the more earthy dialects of the Hindi-Urdu languages, and his forms and poetic style is an influence on generations of young poets. Given below is one of his poems.
farz karo ham ahl-e-wafaa hon, farz karo divane hon
farz karo ye donon baaten jhuti hon afsaane hon
farz karo ye jii ki biptaa jii se jod sunaayi hon
farz karo abhi aur ho itni aadhi ham ne chupayi hon
farz karo tumhen Khush karne ke dhunde ham ne bahane hon
farz karo ye nain tumhaare sach-much ke maikhane hon
farz karo ye rog ho jhuta jhuti peet hamari hon
farz karo is peet ke rog men saans bhi ham pe bhaari hon
farz karo ye jog-bijog ka hamne dhong rachaya hon
farz karo bas yahi haqiiqat baaqi sab kuch maya hon
Translation:
Suppose one’s a lover in chaste;
Suppose one’s crazy as well.
Suppose these both are plain lies,
Suppose there’s fiction in place.
Suppose this lament of heart is
narrated with a possessive heart.
Suppose there’s more to it than
revealed – in concealed parts.
Suppose if to entertain you, one
searches for various excuses.
Suppose if pair of your eyes too
are for real the potion chalices.
Suppose, if this affliction is a lie,
and lie is the one’s love for you.
Suppose under such influence at times,
one’s breathing remains due.
Suppose, if this union-separation
is all a drama well orchestrated.
Suppose this is the truth only,
what remains is all just pretended.
urduwallahs 