15 Must-Read Pakistani Poems

(Poems 1-15)

Pakistani poetry is a diverse blend of cultural influences, traditions, languages, and themes that reflect the country’s complex history and vibrant society. It is characterized by its versatility, with poets writing in Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, and English, each language lending its unique flavor.

One of the key figures in Pakistani poetry is Allama Iqbal, a philosopher-poet who wrote in both Persian and Urdu. Faiz Ahmed Faiz is another iconic figure, known for his revolutionary poetry that was simultaneously filled with romantic and political themes.

Poem Explorer Poetry Archives

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"> 95/100

Tissue

by Imtiaz Dharker

‘Tissue’ by Imtiaz Dharker is a beautifully thoughtful poem about the power paper has in human lives and how, by understanding it, one can also understand humanity.

As an acclaimed Pakistani poet, Imtiaz Dharker's background and cultural influences undoubtedly shape her poetry, including 'Tissue.' While the poem does not explicitly touch upon Pakistani themes, it bears the mark of Dharker's Pakistani heritage through her unique perspective, language, and cultural references. Dharker's voice adds to the diverse and rich landscape of Pakistani poetry, contributing to the broader tapestry of literary expression. It's a very good example of Pakistani verse.

Paper that lets the light

shine through, this

is what could alter things.

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"> 85/100

For Your Lanes, My Country

by Faiz Ahmad Faiz

In ‘For Your Lanes, My Country,’ Faiz Ahmad Faiz passionately addresses the social and political struggles of Pakistan through powerful imagery and metaphors, urging its people towards a more just and equal society.

This poem is a fantastic example of a piece written by a Pakistani author Faiz Ahmad Faiz. The author engages with highly relatable topics while alluding to the contemporary issues facing Pakistan and Pakistani people.

For your lanes, my country,

I can sacrifice all I have

But the custom these days is

No one walks with head held high.

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"> 80/100

Decomposition

by Zulfikar Ghose

‘Decomposition’ is written by the Pakistani-American poet Zulfikar Ghose. This poem centers on a photograph of an old beggar sleeping on the pavement and contrasts artistic composition with physical decomposition.

This poem stands out among Pakistani poetry for its profound engagement with social realities and ethical dilemmas. Unlike many contemporary works, it critiques the commodification of human suffering through art, blending stark realism with introspective depth. Ghose's skill in capturing the grim reality of the beggar's plight and his self-reflective stance offer a compelling and nuanced perspective, elevating the poem above many of its peers.

I have a picture I took in Bombay
of a beggar asleep on the pavement:
grey-haired, wearing shorts and a dirty shirt,
his shadow thrown aside like a blanket.

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"> 70/100

A Century Later

by Imtiaz Dharker

‘A Century Later’ reflects on the modern ways violent oppression tries to use terror as a form of control and the defiance with which the young women fearlessly oppose it.

Dharker was born in Pakistan, though her family relocated to the U.K. when she was still very young. This poem, in particular, explores the poet's reckonings with the country of her birth, as well as the violence faced by those who still live there, especially young girls and women. Despite her physical distance, the poem reveals the proximity of her heart and mind to those issues.

The school-bell is a call to battle,

every step to class, a step into the firing-line.

Here is the target, fine skin at the temple,

cheek still rounded from being fifteen.

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An Unknown Girl

by Moniza Alvi

‘An Unknown Girl’ by Moniza Alvi depicts the poet’s intense connection with her native culture through an unknown girl in an Indian bazaar.

Moniza Alvi was born in 1954, a few years after the Indian partition. She did not live in Pakistan, as her parents immigrated to England when she was merely a few months old. Moreover, she visited Pakistan years later, only after the publication of her first book. This poem, published in her second poetry collection, intricately traces her native culture and yearning for belongingness.

I’ll lean across a country

With my hands outstretched

Longing for the unknown girl

In the neon bazaar.

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"> 67/100

Blessing

by Imtiaz Dharker

‘Blessing’ by Imtiaz Dharker is about the importance of water in people’s lives. It uses imagery to depict how cricital this element is to survival.

Imtiaz Dharker is a British-Pakistani poet, but many of her poems, including this one, are closely connected to India. The setting of ‘Blessing’ clearly reflects Indian life, especially in areas where water is scarce and people live in crowded, poor neighborhoods. The poem paints a picture that feels rooted in real experience, showing how people in India respond with joy and desperation when a water pipe unexpectedly bursts and offers them brief relief.

The skin cracks like a pod.

There never is enough water.

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"> 60/100

Pretty Ugly

by Abdullah Shoaib

‘Pretty Ugly’ by Abdullah Shoaib cleverly explores the ups and downs of self-worth, body image, and confidence. The poem is meant to inspire readers to love themselves for who they are.

Abdullah Shoaib is from Pakistan, but ‘Pretty Ugly’ is not tied to any one place. The message about self-image and confidence is something people everywhere can relate to. No matter where someone is from, they might have felt the way the poem describes at some point in their life. It connects to a global audience because the struggle between self-doubt and self-acceptance is something almost everyone experiences.

I'm very ugly

So don't try to convince me that

I am a very beautiful person

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Can Someone Bring Me My Entire Self

by Noshi Gillani

‘Can Someone Bring Me My Entire Self’ muses on identity and belonging, resonating with the dislocation and longing of diaspora.

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Honour Killing

by Imtiaz Dharker

‘Honour Killing’ by Imtiaz Dharker is a poem about the fight for freedom.The freedom of being able to express oneself.

At last I'm taking off this coat,

this black coat of a country

that I swore for years was mine,

that I wore more out of habit

#10

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I am not that Woman

by Kishwar Naheed

Kishwar Naheed’s ‘I am not that Woman’ rejects objectification, urging empowerment and respect for women across cultures.

I am not that woman

Selling you socks and shoes!

Remember me, I am the one you hid

In your walls of stone, while you roamed

#11

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In Wales, wanting to be Italian

by Imtiaz Dharker

‘In Wales, wanting to be Italian’ captures the universal longing for a different life, identity exploration, and the dreams of youth.

What is it called? Being sixteen

in Wales, longing to be Italian,

to be able to say aloud,

without embarrassment, Bella! Bella!

#12

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Karachi

by Toufiq Rafat

‘Karachi’ by Toufiq Rafat describes the natural forces that besiege the city of Karachi and the ongoing fight for survival that occurs within it.

#13

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Living Space

by Imtiaz Dharker

‘Living Space’ reveals the strength in fragility, transforming a dilapidated home into a symbol of enduring hope.

There are just not enough

straight lines. That

is the problem.

Nothing is flat

#14

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Presents from My Aunts in Pakistan

by Moniza Alvi

‘Presents from My Aunts in Pakistan’ navigates a girl’s bicultural identity, reflecting on gifts from Pakistan that evoke longing.

They sent me a salwar kameez

peacock-blue,

and another

glistening like an orange split open,

#15

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The Right Word

by Imtiaz Dharker

‘The Right Word’ explores how labels shape perception, urging empathy over judgment by revealing our shared humanity.

Outside the door,
lurking in the shadows,
is a terrorist.

Home » Collection » Pakistani Poems

15 Must-Read Pakistani Poems

(Poems 1-15)

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15 Must-Read Pakistani Poems

(Poems 1-15)

by Imtiaz Dharker

by Faiz Ahmad Faiz

by Zulfikar Ghose

by Imtiaz Dharker

by Moniza Alvi

by Imtiaz Dharker

by Abdullah Shoaib

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