Ghalib, one of the all time great poets of urdu, has been the source of inspiration for myself, his couplets are a reflection of sheer genius and undying resilience of human creativity in the face of adversity, the following 12 couplets are a tribute to mirza ghalib and his masterful poetry, which has left an indelible mark on my soul. i'll try my best to translate it in a way that the translated couplet remains as appealing as the one in urdu.
Jee dhondhta hai phir wohi fursat k, raat din
bethien rahien tasavur-janan kiye howe.
The heart yearns for those leisured days when,
To lie reclined, emerged in the thoughts of my beloved.
Thi wo eik shaks k tasavur se
ab wo ranai-e-khiyal kahan
she dwelled in someone's thought, which is now a dream forgot,
where is the light of thought? where has gone the glow?
Ik nou-bahar-e-naaz ko takke hey phir, nigah
chehra farogh-e-me sey gulistan kiye howe
My eyes yearn for a blooming face,
flushed with wine, aglow like the morning.
dekhiye laate hey is shokh ki nakhoat, kiya rung!
us ki her baat pe hum "naam-e-Khuda" kehte hien.
Lets see where leads the chearished pride of our love,
We exclaim "oh God, oh God!" at her every word.
Qasid k aate aate, khat eik or likh rakhon
mein janta hoon, woh jo likhien gey jawab mein.
Let me write another letter before the messenger comes,
I already know your answer to what i have to say.
Her eik makan ko hey makeen se sharaf asad!
majnon jo mar geya hai, to jungle udass hai.
It is the inmates of the house who enhance its beauty and glow,
With majnun no more, only desolate lie in the wilderness.
hey kis kadar halak-e-fareb-e-wafa-e-gul
bulbul key karobar pey hai khananda haye-gul
How enticing are the alluring flowers,
They smile mischieviously at the captivated nightangle.
Yaad thien, hum ko bhi, rang-a-rung bazm-araian,
lekin ab nakhs-o-nigar-e-taq-e-nasian ho gayen.
I too reveled in the colourful sessions in the days of my youth
But now they only serve to embellish oblivion's gloomy chest.
bey-niazi had se guzri, banda perwar! kab talak
hum kahien gey haal-e-dil, or app farma dein gey "kia?"
Callousness has surpassed its limits, how long, my friend,
I'll tell over my misery, and you will say, 'repeat'?
shoridgi k hath se, hey sar-o-baal dosh,
sehra mein, aye Khuda! koi dewar bhi nahien.
My head seems a weary weight in this frenzied state,
Alasm O Lord, there isn't a wall in this wild desert.
mun na dikhla-we, na dikhla, per ba andaz-e-ataab,
khol ker parda, zara aankhien hi dikhla de mujeh.
dont show your face to me, if thats what you want,
At least be kind to unveil your furious eyes to me.
lipatna parnian mein shola aatish ka asaan hay,
walle mushkil hay, hikmat-e-dil mein soz-e-gham chupane ki
one can enflod even a flame inside a silken scarf,
But to hide one's misery is a harder feat.
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