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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 120, pp. 339-343.
FWP:
(inspired by SRF's translation)
(1) This Mir, laid low by tyranny, was once young.
His style of poetry brought out turmoil and tears.
(2) A page of his poetry held magic.
Watching his face while he recited a ghazal-- a strange spell of speech!
(3) In Delhi, wherever that heart-stricken one walked,
a tumult like Doomsday went with him.
(4) He was not downhearted, like water-sodden dust.
He was a hurricane, a disaster, a world-disturber!(5) How intensely I kept longing to see her!
Every flower that grew from my dust was on the lookout.(6) Majnun tries vainly to outdo me in madness.
The day when I went mad-- where was he?(7) I paid no heed to my own wretched heart--
Such riches were hidden in that ruined wreck!(8) With what strength Farhad cleaved the rocks!
Although he was helpless, powerless, and frail.(9) Who in the world didn't know you, Mir?
But when you were gone, not a trace was to be found.
Zahra Sabri:
Zahra Sabri is a special guest translator for this site.
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