Poetry in Translation

In Praise of Mirza Ghalib

a transcreation after Mohammad Iqbal (1877-1938)

Imagine a bird with agile wings introduce the gathering
Now imagine the flawless bird seduce the gathering

You glimpse the fire of life veiled in everything
A hidden crown jewel imbues the gathering

Bringing forth Spring, coloring our world green
In silent foothills, a river renews the gathering

Curls of Urdu are forever grateful to the comb
You show us how not to obtuse the gathering

Your words grace not just ghazals — mischievous —
Even frozen lips in photos suffuse the gathering

Heart’s rage is a moth candle burns; your gaze foretold
sun and moon in sand grains infuse the gathering

Your regal flight entrances even the Pleiades
Rose of Shiraz bud of Delhi salutes the gathering

Your dust conceals a thousand million pearls, laments
from thresholds to rooftops induce the gathering

O Shahjahanabad — cradle of learning
Is Hindustan now out to traduce the gathering?

Ghalib buried in New Delhi’s jungle, Goethe
Interred in Weimar’s garden muse the gathering

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Goethe (1749- 1832); Ghalib (1797 – 1869)

by Rafiq Kathwari