Our Urdu class was given a ghazal writing assignment on the topic of our choice. This is my first time attempting a ghazal…so here it is! (English translation will follow)
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Hamare alfaz mein farq hai kya?
Insaani zubaan mein zarq hai kya?
Tere ankhon ka zarq-barq ka lavz hai nahi.
To ghair-kafi harazgi besud hai kya?
Is mulk ka marz hamara barzakh
magar “marz” sirf ilhan dahan se kya?
Ma’shuq ki du’a sargoshi ke alfaz
Faqat ye kahun main kya?
Saqi to summ aur akmah, Mehbooba
Mere hazaron sher to khamosh hain kya?
Tere dam mein huruf hain nahi
To alif-be sikhne faida hai kya?
Garche main “ashiq” jahan “shin” aur “qaf” hain saath
Tu hai “ma’shuq,” “vao” raqi hai kya?
Beshumar kitabein kutubkhana me hain
Jis mein tera naam na shabt unki arz hai kya?
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Translation (probably will not sound quite as poetic in English):
Is there a difference between our words?
Isn’t there hypocrisy/fraud in human language?
There is not a word for the magnificencce of your eyes
So isn’t ridiculous, frivolous talk insufficient?
This country’s border is our separation
But isn’t “mulk” just air/sound from the mouth?
The words the beloved whispers in her prayers
Could I speak only those?
The Saqi (wine-bearer) is deaf and blind, dear one
Aren’t my thousand sher (couplets) then silence?
In your breath there are no letters
So what is the benefit of learning the alphabet
(This one is tough because it involves an Urdu play on words…so this is for advanced readers only?)
Although I am the “Aashiq” (lover) where “Shin” and “Qaf” (the last two consonants in aashiq) are together
You are “Ma’shuq” (the beloved) so isn’t “vao” (the letter U) the “Rafiq”? (one who is thought to be with the beloved)
There are countless books in the library
What is the value of those in which your name is not inscribed?
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I apologize for how terrible the translation sounds! This was really an experiment for myself. I tried to get the meter and rhyming and vocabulary correct, so if any of my Urdu-speaking buddies see any problems, please tell me!!!
