Mirza Ghalib English Translations 3

MIRZA GHALIB ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS Urdu poems about speech, wine, Paradise, poets, poetry, words and grief. To hear my rose-bestrewing speech, first place the flagon before me! —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Let someone too obedient for wine and honey transform our paradise into hell. —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Grief overflows the cup despite the abundance of wine, but this cupbearer’s slave, what griefs do I have? —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Leave me alone at ZamZam because spinning in circles makes me dizzy. And besides, my pilgrim’s loincloth has wine stains! —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Will the One grants you such glorious radiance, O Moon, not also grant me glorious wine? —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch When the flagons and glasses are all filled, the winehouse stands empty. —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch I drank wine all night, then at dawn I washed the stains from my pilgrim’s loincloth. —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch When the winehouse has been departed, do we care where we go? Whether to the mosque, the classroom or some Sufi lodge? —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch We’re unaccustomed to leisure: when the winehouse door closed, we visited the Ka’ba. —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch We departed Paradise for illusions here, but the inebriation’s overwhelmed by the hangover. —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Who doesn’t know Ghalib? He’s a good poet with a terrible reputation. —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Although there are other excellent poets, they say Ghalib excels them. —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch Think of Poetry as an enchanted world rich with meaning: every word, Ghalib, that charms my verse. —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch No matter where awareness flings its nets, the Phoenix sleeps unseen in my nests of words. —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch With his special style, Ghalib sang of subtleties. It’s a public invitation, for friends in the know. —Mirza Ghalib, loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch