Mir Taqi Mir Quotes

Once through this ruined city did I pass I espied a lonely bird on a bough and asked ‘What knowest thou of this wilderness?’ It replied: 'I can sum it up in two words: ‘Alas, Alas!

An Urdu couplet by one of his favorite poets, Mir Taqi Mir: Jis sar ko ghurur aaj hai yaan taj-vari ka Kal uss pe yahin shor hai phir nauhagari ka The head which today proudly flaunts a crown Will tomorrow, right here, in lamentation drown.

Vajah beganagi nahin malum Tum jahan ke ho vahan ke ham bhi hain

I am back in my beloved city. The scene of desolation fills my eyes with tears. At every step my distress and agitation increases. I cannot recognize houses or landmarks I once knew well. Of the former inhabitants, there is no trace. Everywhere there is a terrible emptiness. All at once I find myself in the quarter where I once resided. I recall the life I used to live: meeting friends in the evening, reciting poetry, making love, spending sleepless nights pining for beautiful women and writing verses on their long tresses which held me captive. That was life! What is there left of it? Nothing.

He Who made humanity, also created life in its entirety: this universe is now restless, longing for original Unity.   On

Ba kuja sar niham keh chun zanjir Har dare halqa-e dare digar-ast (Hide—but where? Each door I close opens another.) —Anonymous (found in a ghazal by Mir Taqi Mir)

Rah-e-talab mein girey hote munh ke bal hum bhi Shikasta-paayi ne apni hamein sambhaal liya

Dil-o-Dilli donon agar hain kharaab Pa kuchh lutf is ujde ghar mein bhi hain