The World Is A Playground Poem by Mirza Ghalib

The World Is A Playground

Rating: 3.0


I perceive the world as a playground
Where dawn and dusk appear in eternal rounds
In His Universal form is a plaything the throne of Solomon
The miracles of the Messiah seem so ordinary in my eyes
Without name I cannot comprehend any form
Illusionary but is the identity of all objects
My anguish envelopes the entire desert
Silently flows the river in front of my floods
Ask not what separation has done to me
Just see your poise when I come in front of you
Truly you say that I am egotistical and proud
It is the reflection, O friend, in your limited mirror
To appreciate the style and charm of conversation
Just bring in the goblet and wine
Hatred manifests due to my envious mind
Thus I say, don't take his name in front of me
Faith stops me while temptations attract
Inspite of Kaaba behind and church ahead
I am the Lover, yet notorious is my charm
Thus Laila calls names to Majnu in front of me
'Dies' not one though the union is a delight
In premonition of the separation night
Alas, this be it, the bloody separation wave
I know not what else is in store ahead of me
Though the hands don't move, the eyes are alive
Wine and goblet, let them stay in front of me
Says 'Ghalib'
Conscience is companion and trusted friend
Don't pass any judgments in front of me.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
M Asim Nehal 03 March 2016

Outstanding poem.

9 0 Reply
M Asim Nehal 09 March 2016

Bazeecha-e-itfal hai duniya meray aage Hota hai shab-o-roz tamasha meray aage The world is a children’s playground before me Night and Day, this theatre is enacted before me Ek khel hai aurang-e-Suleman meray nazdeek Ek baat hai aijaz-e-Masiha meray aage For me the flying throne of Solomon is a game And only talk, the miracles of Christ before me Juz naam nahin surat-e-aalam mujhe manzoor Juz waham nahin hasti-e-ashia meray aage I acknowledge the face of the universe as only a name The substance of reality is but superstition before me Hota hai nihan gard mein sahra meray hote Ghista hai jabeen khaak pe dariya meray aage Next to me, the wilderness is shamed into hiding in dust The servile river grovels in the dust before me Mat pooch ke kya haal hai mera teray peechey Tu dekh ke kya rang gait era meray aage Do not ask what my condition is without you Just look at your own comportment before me Sach kahte ho khud bin-o-khud aara hoon, na kyun hoon Baitha hai but-e-aaina seema meray aage True, I appear consumed by the niceties of adornment, but of course An idol mirrors my reflection before me Phir dekhiye andaaz-e-gul afshaani-e-guftaar Rakh de koi paimana-o-sahba meray aage Then witness the blossoming manner of speech Just place a decanter of wine before me Nafrat ke gumaan guzre hai main rashk se guzra Kyunkar kahoon lo naam na unka meray aage I was presumed hostile where I am merely jealous Why should I say do not take that name before me Imaan mujhe roke hai jo kheenche hai mujhe kufr Kaaba mere peechhe hai kalisa meray aage Faith retards me, where idols lure me Kaaba is behind me, the church is before me Aashiq hoon pah mashooq farebi hai miraa kaam Majnun ko bura kahti hai Laila meray aage I desire, my craft is to seduce the desired The beloved Laila insults the lover Majnun before me Khush hote hai par wasl mein yun mar nahin jaate Aai shab-e-hijran ki tamanna meray aage Joy prevails, but union need not signal death Yearnings of the dark night of my soul came before me Hai mauj-zan ik qulzum-e-khoon kaash yahi ho Aata hai abhi dekhiye kya kya meray aage Tears of blood create oceans of blood, if only this were it And yet, what unknown fates must I still behold before me Go haath ko jumbish nahin aankhon mein toh dum hai Rahne do abhi saaghar-o-meena meray aage Even when hands have no movement, sight retains vitality So leave the accoutrements of wine before me Hum-pesha-o-hum-mashrab-o-humraaz hai mera Ghalib ko bura kyun kaho achha meray aage He is my comrade, my confidant, my fellow carouser Do not speak ill of him, Ghalib is good before me

9 0 Reply
Rachana R 06 May 2005

This isn't a very good translation. Many of the verses have a totally different meaning than what the translator has provided.

6 0 Reply
* Sunprincess * 06 December 2013

I am the Lover, yet notorious is my charm

4 1 Reply
Naida Nepascua Supnet 09 June 2015

The world is a playground and we are the players Your poem is nice and it reflects truth

1 0 Reply
MAHTAB BANGALEE 20 January 2021

the world is a great playgroud and we are players; still playing - none knows who is winner!

1 0 Reply
Abdul Rehman Mani 15 September 2019

Irrefragable...

0 0 Reply
Gordon Walter 13 January 2019

A philosophical poem.Nice thoughts.

0 0 Reply
Nadia Umber Lodhi 07 October 2018

بازیچہ اطفال ہے دنیا مرے آگے

0 0 Reply
Val Brooklyn Rogers 01 February 2018

The World is A Playground a giant poem among poems. Fantastic!

0 0 Reply
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Mirza Ghalib

Mirza Ghalib

Agra / British India
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