मिसरा

Meaning

A hemistich; a single line of a couplet in poetry.

Detailed Meaning

In Urdu poetics, a misra denotes one single line or hemistich of a couplet (sher). Two hemistichs (misra-e-ula and misra-e-sani) combine to complete the sense and meter of a couplet. In this verse, it specifically refers to a provocative poetic line written on the arch of the mosque.

Etymology

Arabic مِصْرَاع (miṣrāʻ), originally meaning one leaf or fold of a double door, metaphorically applied to half of a poetic couplet.

Usage

In classical poetry and mushairas, poets are often given a specific misra (tarah) around which they must compose a complete ghazal.

Examples

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