Friday 10 February 2012

The rejected couplets from Ghalib's fourth

{4,8x}*

1) where is the second step of longing, oh Lord?
2) we found the desert of possibility [to be] a single/certain/unique/excellent footprint
be-dimāġh-e ḳhajlat hūñ rashk-e imtiḥāñ tā ke
ek be-kasī tujh ko ʿālam-āshnā pāyā
1) I am irritable/impatient/disaffected from/with shame; {whither / to what end} an envy/jealousy of/for testing?
2) a single/sole friendlessness/helplessness/forlornness-- I found you world-{familiar/acquainted}!
{4,10x}
ḳhāk-bāzī-e ummīd kār-xānah-e t̤iflī
yās ko do-ʿālam se lab bah ḳhandah vā pāyā
1) the 'dust-game' of hope-- a workshop/business of childishness/childhood
2) [it/I] found despair [to be] open/cheerful, with a smiling/laughing lip, {like / by means of} the two worlds

{4,11x}

kyūñ nah vaḥshat-e ġhālib bāj-ḳhvāh-e taskīñ ho
kushtah-e taġhāful ko ḳhaṣm-e ḳhūñ-bahā pāyā
1) why wouldn't {prevailing / Ghalib's} wildness/madness be a {tax/toll}-receiver of peace/tranquility?
2) [it/someone] found the one slain by negligence/heedlessness [to be] an enemy of the 'blood-price'


Where, Lord, alights the foot of Ardency's stride?
The Sahara of Becoming is but a sole-print wide

 Maddened is my Innocence at the malice of its Test
Privily deflowered as boutonnière to thy chest!

Still, Sand castles anneal Hope & Calf Love, Veal, the Calf
Till, Despair teeth bare the Two Worlds' butcher laugh.

Love-mad I evince, by Indifference murdered to be heard
 Peace hath a Prince! Tender weregeld She the Word



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