Ghalib must have been a very prescient man, for I find this ghazal so surprisingly apt for my current predicament in lockdown! Believe me, I am not trivializing the ghazal (it’s one of my favorites, especially the version by Talat Mahmood)…I am only interpreting the pearl as its light filters through my mind’s window this Covid afternoon in slightly different hues…

Koi din gar zindagani aur hai… Apne jee mein humne thaani aur hai
“I was preparing to retire and enjoy the rest of my days traveling and visiting friends and family…”

Aatish-e-dozakh mein ye garmii kahan…Soz-e-gham haaye nihaani aur hai
“Burning in hell, it never bothered me, but this Covid anxiety, it is something else… “

Baarha dekhi hai unki ranjishen…par kuchh ab ke sargaraani aur hai
“‘Been there, done that,’ used to be my go to refrain – but now, this Covid’s head games have me totally boxed in… “

De ke khat munh dekhta hai naamabar…kuchh to paigham-e-zabaani aur hai
“Having just handed me the warning, it waits on my stoop in anticipation… but I think I will let it wait a little longer… “

Kaata-e-imaar hai aksar nujoom…woh balaaen aasmani aur hai
“Never believed that my fate was preordained by the stars… but do feel helpless in the face of this random pandemic from the skies”

“Ho chuki Ghalib balaaen sab tamaam…ek marg-e-nagahaani aur hai“
“Wrong, Ghalib Sahib, the monster is still around, but you are right about the end – a sudden death is a thing to die for”

کوئی دن گر زندگانی اور ہے
اپنے جی میں ہم نے ٹھانی اور ہے


آتش دوزخ میں یہ گرمی کہاں
سوز غم ہائے نہانی اور ہے


بارہا دیکھی ہیں ان کی رنجشیں
پر کچھ اب کے سرگرانی اور ہے


دے کے خط منہ دیکھتا ہے نامہ بر
کچھ تو پیغام زبانی اور ہے


 قاطع اعمار ہے اکثر نجوم
وہ بلائے آسمانی اور ہے


ہو چکیں غالبؔ بلائیں سب تمام
ایک مرگ ناگہانی اور ہے

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