For those who have joined now, let me say few words about this Ghalib series.

Ghalib, his Ghazals, his poems, his genius, and his wits have always fascinated millions of Urdu lovers including myself. Those who want to read my previous work please send me an email request; I will email back my previous explanations just for asking.

This is my 47th installment. I have received excellent response from many friends; both Urdu and non-Urdu speakers. Please know that this is my own, Asghar Vasanwala’s, work and not a forwarding of someone else’s work as some of you might have thought. Please forward this to your friends. Also, please send me your comments/complements. I will appreciate if you forward me email addresses of your Urdu/non-Urdu friends.

Here is today’s verse (She’r) & its explanation in Urdu, Gujarati, and English

For past issues and much more please do visit my Ghalib website www.Mirza-Ghalib.org. I guarantee, you’ll enjoy it

This is the 7th verse of Ghalib’s 14th Ghazal.

Dar pe rehne ko kaha, aur keh ke kaisa phir gaya!

She permitted me to stay in her foyer; but, see how she turned back on her words

Jitne arse may mera lipTa hua bistar khula

Just during moments my folded bedroll unrolledDar=door, space before entrance-door Arsa= time, duration

Meaning: In this She’r, Ghalib in an extraordinary style describes his beloved’s promise breaking habit, her fickle nature, her cruel pranks, her teasing, and his own homeless situation. He says, “With surprising kindness she had said I was permitted to stay by her door. Hearing this, I started to unroll my bedroll. However, look at her fickle nature! During the space of moments I unrolled my bedroll, she turned back on her words and I had to repack my bedroll”

Finer aspects of this verse: It is Ghalib’s art telling a whole story in just one verse. Imagine the situation described in this verse: beloved is standing in her door; and, Ghalib with depressed face, holding bedroll under his armpit, leaving. Poor Ghalib!

Asghar Vasanwala asgharf@roadrunner.com ,

April 24, 2008