یوں تو عاشق ترا زمانہ ہوا
مجھ سا جاں باز دوسرا نہ ہوا
Indeed, the whole world became your lover,
But no other devoted lover like me was found.
Indeed, the whole world became your lover,
But no other devoted lover like me was found.
The fragrance of the beloved spread by itself,
No one had to rely on the morning breeze.
I am captive in the love of the fowler,
Even after escaping the net, I could not remain free.
(You) would have brought news of that unaware one,
Even this much could not be done by you, O morning breeze.
How could we plead for kindness from them?
When we ourselves couldn't even complain of their cruelty.
Having become engrossed by the poetry of Hasrat,
Today, Ghalib could not compose a ghazal.
This ghazal, a classic form in Urdu poetry, explores themes of intense, unrequited love and unparalleled devotion, with the lover expressing a unique commitment that transcends mere adoration. It utilizes traditional motifs such as the morning breeze (saba) as a messenger and the imagery of being ensnared by love. The concluding couplet offers a sophisticated meta-commentary, implying that the profound beauty and impact of Hasrat's verse are so captivating that they would even render the legendary Ghalib unable to compose, a powerful assertion of poetic influence within the rich Urdu literary tradition.
love & longing (ishq, judāī) · the world's unfairness (shikwa) · wonder & existence