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What is a Ghazal?
What is a Ghazal?
One may ask what a ghazal is. A ghazal, according to Wikipedia, refers to "a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. Ghazals often deal with topics of spiritual and romantic love and may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation from the beloved and the beauty of love in spite of that pain" (Wikipedia).
Another definition is found in ISKME (a website). They define Ghazal as: "an Arabic form of poetry that has two major rules:
(1) The poem contains a rhyme or repeated refrain;
(2) The first couplet contains the rhyme or repeated refrain at the end of both lines. For every stanza after; however, the refrain is only repeated at the end of the second line.
(How to Write a Ghazal From https://www.oercommons.org/courseware/lesson/64306/overview?section=4)
Ghazal is a form of poetry that originated in Arabic poetry and is now widely used in Persian, Urdu, and other languages. It is typically composed of rhyming couplets and has a refrain, or a repeated phrase, at the end of the second line of each couplet. The subject matter of a ghazal can vary, but it often deals with themes of love, beauty, and spiritual longing.
Ghazal Writing by Vishnu Rai
Prof. Vishnu Rai from Nepal explains what a ghazal is as follows:
A ghazal, pronounced as ‘guzzle’ is written in couplets – 5 to 7 couplets. A couplet is called sher. Ghazal is a metrical composition. Ideally each sher (couplet) should have equal number of syllables (one more or one less is acceptable). Each sher is a mini poem as each of them can have different theme/topic.
1. The first couplet (which is called matla (/mᴧtla/) sets radif (rƏdi:ph/) the rhyme, and quafia (/ka:phia:) the refrain of the ghazal.
2. Usually the last sher (which is called makta /mᴧkta/) contains takhallus ‘pen name’ of the poet.
3. radif is a must: if there is quafia excellent but even if it’s not there it’s excusable.
4. The radif appears at the end of each couplet.
Example:
Would you like to learn to write a ghazal? We will teach you!
Though at first the rules may seem a puzzle, we will teach you!
(Each line has 13 syllables. The quafia is azal (ghazal rhyming with puzzle). the radif is ‘we will teach you’.)
There’s no any weapon of death that I fear
It is the deadly smile of yours that I fear
(Each line has 11 syllables. There is no quafia. The radif is ‘that I fear’
This is my ghazal. Hope you enjoy.
Eyes are to see and seeing is not a crime
Hearts are to love and loving is not a crime
Murder or suicide is a crime no doubt
But see killing with eyes is not a crime
People fear to open their mouth in this country
I don’t, voicing my ideas is not a crime
I don’t mind heaven or hell after I die
Let me drink for drinking is not a crime
Don’t love for love is a crime here my friend
But murder or kidnapping is not a crime
Living has become very difficult here
I was born here, but that too is not a crime
# Vishnu Rai #
PS: I’ve tried to keep ghazal-rules simple but of course you can surf the net for more sophisticated rules.
My First Ghazal - "Earth, We Need You"
Earth, are you OK? Your temperature is rising.
We humans need you; our love is rising.
What have we done to you? To your well-being,
Drought's everywhere; sea water is rising.
Ice is melting; hard to do now skiing.
Bush fires are everywhere; cost of living is rising.
Earth, my love, I apologize, I too am suffering.
Wars occur, man-kill-man is rising.
Food is not enough; rivers are drying.
Kindness is dwindling; hatred is rising.
Love, where are you? Have you been hiding?
Our need for you is rising.
By Janpha Thadphoothon
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