The maqta is the last sher (couplet) of a ghazal, a collection of Urdu poems, in which the poet's takhallus, or pen name, is employed, often in very creative ways.
A shayar can use the maqta in a variety of interesting ways. He can "talk to himself", "to somebody else", "refer to something" etc. For example Firaq Gorakhpuri , whose takhallus is the word for the common theme in Urdu poetry of the state of pining for the beloved, plays on his nome de plume and the word firaq:
Tu yeh na samajh ke Firaq teri Firaq mein hai
Firaq uski Firaq mein hai jo teri Firaq mein hai
Don't think that Firaq pines for you (as in a desire to meet you)
Firaq pines for the one who pines for you (as Firaq wants to meet him first, who wants to meet you)
See also