===
{887},
trans.
===

 

Notes:

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 87, pp. 249-251.

S. R. Faruqi:

(1) You've come to visit today , but what do I have to scatter around you as love's offering,
except to draw you into my arms and kiss you long and hard?

(2) I became dust: ruined and thrown to the winds, trodden under foot, totally obliterated.
How else am I to smooth the hardships in the path of love?

(3) A wan and pale face, tears flowing all the time--two strong witnesses.
Be fair now! How can I deny to you that I am in love?

(4) Now whenever I enter a garden my advantage is keeping my mouth shut.
There's no reason I should have the rose pester me with arguments when I praise your beauty.

(5) A wan and pale face, tears flowing all the time--two such strong witnesses.
Do justice to my love! How can I deny it?

(6) I am a mere faqir, no more than the dust. If I come and sit here it is merely courtesy.
Those who feel shame at these things should stay away from such situations.

(7) Each and every leaf in the garden understands my state well.
Tell me, lovely rose, who else should I make aware of my destitution, shorn of leaf and branch?

(8) Do you think I ever entertained any expectations of these fancy people
who gave my rival a front row seat, and sent me out to wander the streets?

(9) Really, Mir ji is one of those gabby types. He's a friend, but dare I tell him of my pain?
If he got to know even the littlest thing, he would expatiate on it in every gathering.

 

FWP:

(inspired by SRF's translation)

(1) Today you have come to my house-- what is here that I would offer you?
other than that clasping you to my side, for a long time, I would hold you in my arms?

(2) I became dust, I was flung to the wind, I was trampled underfoot, I was entirely annihilated--
further hardships on the road of passion-- how else would I make them easy?

(3) A wan face, tears flowing all the time--two strong witnesses.
Be fair now! How can I deny to you that I am in love?

(4) Now whenever I enter a garden my advantage is in keeping my mouth shut.
Why should I praise you-- and bring the rose down on my head?

(5) I make a point of showing carelessness-- out of despair.
If that arrogant one showed the least inclination, I would plead a hundred times.

(6) I am a faqir, no better than the dust. If I come and sit here, it's only out of courtesy.
Those who disapprove, should simply avoid such scenes.

(7) Every single leaf of the garden knows my situation.
Tell me, oh rose, are there others who should learn of my fruitlessness?

(8) Did I really expect this from those fine-looking people--
to seat the Other beside them, and sent me out disgraced into the streets?

(9) Mir-ji is quite the one-- if he comes, should I tell him of my pain?
If he can learn anything at all, he'll spread it around in the gatherings.

 

Zahra Sabri:

Zahra Sabri is a special guest translator for this site.

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