غیر لیں محفل میں بوسے جام کے
ہم رہیں یوں تشنہ لب پیغام کے
Others in the assembly kiss the cups,
While we remain thirsty-lipped for a message.
Others in the assembly kiss the cups,
While we remain thirsty-lipped for a message.
What complaint can we have of weariness from you, for these
Are but the tricks of the blue-domed sky (fate).
We will write letters, even if there's no purpose,
For we are lovers of your name.
Last night, I drank wine at Zamzam, and at dawn
Washed the stains from the ihram garment.
What have the eyes ensnared the heart in, but
These too are rings of your snare.
There is news of the king's recovery bath,
Let's see when the days of the bathhouse turn (prosper).
Love, O Ghalib, has made us useless,
Otherwise, we too were people of worth.
This ghazal by Ghalib masterfully blends themes of unrequited love, existential despair, and poignant longing with characteristic wit and philosophical depth. It navigates the lover's torment of being excluded while others enjoy the beloved's proximity, expressing resignation to a fate often perceived as cruel. Ghalib's signature defiance against religious hypocrisy is evident in the bold imagery of drinking wine at Zamzam and washing its stains from a pilgrim's robe. The poem also touches on unwavering devotion, the beloved's captivating power, and societal critique, culminating in the poet's self-deprecating yet profound admission that love has rendered him 'useless,' a hallmark of his enduring literary persona.
love & longing (ishq, judāī) · wit & rebuke · defiance