Reading W16: Ghalib, Part B

Ghalib (1797-1869): Ghalib was a poet who's fame has grown extensively since his death. He is also one of the most quoted poets around.

(587-601)

"Now go and live in a place"

(591-601)

- Living somewhere isolated where no one would hear from or about you.

"Be merciful and send for me)

-Someone wanting there loved one to get a hold of them again after being apart.

"Where's the foothold"

- Questioning whether earth is the first step to get to heaven or if there is a middle ground after life on earth.

"I've made my home next door to you"

- One's stubbornness from expressing their feelings/words to another who they had moved next to without permission sounding as if they already know each other.

"Couplets"

- Ghalib is writing to himself telling himself to not get caught up on things that are not meant to be. He then begins asking his god why he's listening to him when he's listening to another at the same time. Blames his god for his madness.

"It was essential"

- He writes about him and his adopted son visiting his dead wife whom they were visiting her tombstone.

"My tongue begs for the power of speech"

- Once again I think this poem is describing his wife and how he describes her leaving(passing away) as being hard for him to cope with him

"Petition: My Salary"

- Ghalib directs this to the last Mughal emperor telling him that he is basically a slave and has been getting nothing but debt from the emperor.

Ghalib. "Now Go and Live in a Place." The Norton Anthology World Literature Volume E. Ed. Puchner, Martin, Suzanne Akbari, Wiebke Denecke, Vinay Dharwadker, Barbara Fuchs, Caroline Levine, Pericles Lewis, Emily Wilson. W. W. Norton & Company, pp. 587-601