Naqsh Fariyaadi

I'm quite surprised that I didn't start this section earlier. Being the Mirza Ghalib lover that I am, I should have thought of this a long time ago. Anyway, thus starts a humble offering to the best Urdu poet that ever lived - Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib. I'll present various shers in Urdu and will give a translation of it as well. Note that Urdu poetry - especially that by Mirza Ghalib - is much better in the original Urdu. Translations in English always lose the flavour and the brilliance of the Urdu original. Here goes...

This is one of my favourites for its sheer brilliance in imagery

Hotaa hai nihaaN gard mein sehraa mere hote,
Ghistaa hai jabeeN Khaak peh daryaa mere aage.
- from Baazeecha-e-atfaal (-aa mere aage)


The desert conceals itself in dust when I am before it,
The ocean rubs its forehead on the sand when I am before it.


That's it for now...(you should know the rest)