Urdu poetry (Urdu: اردو شاعری Urdu Shayari) is a rich tradition of poetry and has many different types and forms. Borrowing much from the Persian language, it is today an important part of Pakistani and North Indian culture.

Like other languages, the history of Urdu poetry shares origins and influences with other linguistic traditions within the Urdu-Hindi-Hindustani mix. Literary figures as far back as Kabir (1440–1518 CE) and even Amir Khusro (1253-1325 CE) inspired later Urdu poets, and served as intellectual and linguistic sources. Meer, Dard, Ghalib, Anis, Dabeer, Iqbal, Zauq, Josh, Jigar, Faiz, Firaq and Syed Shmad Shah (Ahmad Faraz) are among the greatest poets of Urdu. The tradition is centered in the subcontinent. Following the Partition of India in 1947, it found major poets and scholars residing primarily in modern Pakistan. Mushairas (or poetic expositions) are today held in metropolitan areas worldwide.

The principal forms of Urdu poetry are:

The principal collection forms of Urdu poetry are:

Munawwar Rana (Urdu: منور رانا )is a renowned Urdu poet. He hails from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh but spent most of his life in Kolkata. He is considered one of the most successful poets at Mushairas and is popular outside India also.

Rana's poetry has also been published in Hindi and Bangla. The notable feature of his poetry is that he used the genre of ghazal to eulogise mother, which is unique, as ghazal was considered a poetic form in which lovers' conversed with each other. Apart from his poetry collection, Rana has also penned a memoir.

Though non-controversial, he had a public spat with poet Bashir Badr at a public function. Rana is known to be a sensitive poet who uses Hindi and Awadhi words in the couplets. He avoids using flowery language and shuns chaste Urdu in his couplets, which is a reason that he is successful in poetic meets in non-Urdu areas also.

He has also performed on stages. Recent one was at Culrav 2012 (the cultrural event of NIT Allahabad).