تیرے توسن کو صبا باندھتے ہیں
ہم بھی مضموں کی ہَوا باندھتے ہیں
They harness the breeze to your steed,
We too, harness the wind of themes.
They harness the breeze to your steed,
We too, harness the wind of themes.
Who has seen the effect of a sigh?
We too, harness our own 'wind' (spirit/resolve).
Against your leisure, O Life!
They bind lightning with henna-stained feet.
Freedom from the prison of existence is known!
They bind tears without head or foot (aimlessly).
The flower's bloom is from the intoxication of color,
When do the intoxicated tie their robe's sash?
Don't ask about the errors in themes,
People bind a lament to be effective/reaching.
The helplessness of the planners,
They even apply henna on blisters.
The beautiful ones are simple yet cunning, Ghalib,
They make a covenant of loyalty with us.
This ghazal by Ghalib exemplifies his distinctive style, weaving together themes of love's futility, the transience of life, and the poet's struggle with expression. Through intricate imagery and philosophical undertones, Ghalib explores the deceptive nature of beauty, the elusive search for freedom from earthly constraints, and the subjective interpretation of profound experiences, often contrasting his own nuanced perspective with simpler understandings.
love & longing (ishq, judāī) · wit & rebuke · wonder & existence