Who knows of my burning after death?
Who is the lamp of Mir's tomb, if not a sigh?
I am helpless, restless, a traveler, without a homeland.
Who is my companion without the long road?
Mosques and temples overflow with whose beauty?
Who is that God amidst such idols?
Tread carefully, for you do not know
Who this is on the path, like a footprint.
Such a broken-hearted captive, I have not heard.
Whose every sigh, Mir, is soul-searing?
This Urdu poem, likely by Mir Taqi Mir given the takhallus "Meer," delves into profound existential and spiritual themes characteristic of classical ghazal. It explores the poet's sense of post-mortal suffering and loneliness, the pervasive nature of divine beauty that transcends religious boundaries, and the deep, life-exhausting anguish of a captive heart. The verses reflect deep introspection, a search for companionship amidst solitude, and a caution regarding life's transient path, all imbued with Mir's signature melancholic and philosophical depth.
grief (gham) · wonder & existence · faith & the divine