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SRF's translation comes, with his permission, from Mir Taqi Mir: Selected Ghazals and Other Poems, translated by Shamsur Rahman Faruqi. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2019. Murty Classical Library of India; Sheldon Pollock, General Editor. Ghazal 34, p. 97.
FWP:
(inspired by SRF's translation)
(1) If only Farhad had paused before putting his hand to the axe--
If only he had withdrawn his 'hand under a stone'!(2) If her fieriness would blaze up, then I tell you,
The sun would be left fumbling for his sword and shield.(3) This head of mine has been a ball in the playing-field of passion
Since the days when you roamed around, playing with balls.(4) Kohkan couldn't help bursting open his head--
How could he have staved off a 'stone on the breast' like Khusrau?(5) If once she had held me to her breast, Mir
For years this chest-wound would not have caused me pain.
Zahra Sabri:
Zahra Sabri is a special guest translator for this site.
(1) Farhad should have paused a bit before grasping the adze
He should at least have freed his hand trapped ‘under the stone’(2) If that bold and bright one ever lost her temper, then mark my words:
The sun would be left struggling to hold on to its sword and shield(3) This head has been a ball in the playing field of love, right from the days
When you roamed about in play, tossing balls in the air(4) Farhad could not but split his head open
Through what means could he have turned aside a rock on his chest like Khusrau?(5) If she had held us close against her heart just once, Mir
This wound in our heart would not have pierced us for years
Tahira Naqvi:
Tahira Naqvi is a guest translator for this site.
(1) Farhad should have waited before picking up the axe
He should have at least removed his hand from under the stone(2) When that beauteous one was angered, look how
The sun was left scrambling to secure its sword and shield(3) This head has been a ball in the playing field of passion
Since the days when you roamed around tossing a ball(4) The stone-cutter (Farhad) could not have avoided cracking his head open
How could he have otherwise turned aside a stony-chested person like Khusrau(5) If she had held me to her breast once Mir
For years this wound in my chest would not have caused such piercing pain