समाता नईं इज़ार अपने में अबतर देख रंग उस का करे किम-ख़्वाब सो जाने की यूँ पाते हैं जासूसी
— Shakir Naji
Meaning

Seeing its wretched state, the trousers cannot contain itself; in this way, they catch the brocade spying by pretending to fall asleep.

Explanation

This couplet turns on a brilliant Urdu pun involving 'kam-khwab', which is both a luxurious brocade fabric and literally translates to 'scant sleep' or sleeplessness. Gazing at the rumpled, disheveled state of the trousers (izaar), the poet playfully observes that the garment can scarcely contain its own agitation. It is as though even this restless cloth has been caught spying on sleep, transforming the lover's nocturnal torment into a clever and vivid sartorial scene.

Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.

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