قصد گر امتحان ہے پیارے
اب تلک نیم جان ہے پیارے
If the intention is a test, my dear,
Until now, I am half-dead, my dear.
If the intention is a test, my dear,
Until now, I am half-dead, my dear.
Do not converse with us in Rekhta,
This is our language, my dear.
We leave our heart with you,
This is our mark, my dear.
Mir, does anyone die intentionally?
If there is life, there is the world, my dear.
This ghazal excerpt, characteristic of Mir Taqi Mir, one of Urdu's greatest poets, demonstrates his mastery of expressing deep emotional and philosophical themes with poignant simplicity. The poem addresses a beloved, exploring themes of life's trials, the heart's endurance, and the very essence of language itself, with the reference to "Rekhta" highlighting Urdu's historical development. The final lines, often a poet's signature (takhallus), reveal Mir's introspective nature, reflecting on the preciousness of life and the futility of deliberate self-destruction, all conveyed with a tender, direct address.
love & longing (ishq, judāī) · grief (gham) · wonder & existence