آ کہ مری جان کو قرار نہیں ہے
طاقت بیداد انتظار نہیں ہے
Come, for my soul finds no peace
I have no strength for the tyranny of waiting
Come, for my soul finds no peace
I have no strength for the tyranny of waiting
They offer paradise in exchange for worldly life
But the intoxication is not proportionate to the hangover
Weeping expels me from your gathering
Alas, I have no control over my tears
It's futile to suspect us of bearing resentment
In the dust of lovers, there is no particle of malice
The pleasure of meaning's manifestations has departed from the heart
Other than the rose, there is no mirror of spring
You have promised my murder, so at least
Woe if the promise is not firm
You have sworn an oath of abstinence, Ghalib
But your oath is not trustworthy
This ghazal, typical of the Indo-Persian poetic tradition, showcases Mirza Ghalib's characteristic blend of profound longing, philosophical skepticism, and self-aware wit. It explores the enduring themes of the lover's torment in waiting, the perceived futility of worldly pleasures compared to deeper emotional experiences, and the overwhelming nature of grief. Ghalib masterfully employs paradox and irony, particularly in the final couplet, to reflect on the human condition, the unpredictability of emotions, and the often-unreliable nature of vows, all while maintaining the intricate structure and emotional intensity inherent to the ghazal form.
love & longing (ishq, judāī) · wit & rebuke · grief (gham)