Does anyone have a perfect life?
I came across a beautiful rendition of this Urdu Ghazal. A ghazal is a poetic form in Arabic, persian and other South Asian languages.
The poem talks about the fact that not one life in this world is complete in all respects. Life is all about compromises, putting your chin up and enjoying the present when it is pleasant and tolerating the hardships when the going gets tough.
I am loving the use of ChatGPT to understand Urdu poetry. Please see below the summary and translation. All credit to OpenAI’s brilliant tool ChatGPT. Another post on the use cases for ChatGPT to follow. Poetry by Nida Fazli.
What is that one poem in whatever language you prefer that you’d like to share back with me?
1. کبھی کسی کو مکمل جہاں نہیں ملتا
کہیں زمین کہیں آسماں نہیں ملتا
Translation:
No one ever finds a perfect world;
Somewhere the earth is missing, somewhere the sky is out of reach.
Explanation:
This verse reflects the idea that life is inherently incomplete. We always face limitations and never have everything we desire in one place. Whether it’s dreams or circumstances, something we need always seems to be just out of reach.
2. تمام شہر میں ایسا نہیں خلوص نہ ہو
جہاں امید ہو اس کا وہاں نہیں ملتا
Translation:
It’s not that sincerity doesn’t exist in the entire world;
It’s just that where you expect it, you don’t find it.
Explanation:
Sincerity and kindness do exist, but often not in the places or people where we expect them. Life’s irony is that we’re let down by those we rely on most, while unexpected sources often surprise us with their genuineness.
3. کہاں چراغ جلائیں کہاں گلاب رکھیں
چھتیں تو ملتی ہیں لیکن مکاں نہیں ملتا
Translation:
Where should we light lamps, where should we place roses?
Roofs are found, but true homes are rare.
Explanation:
This verse distinguishes between mere shelters and true homes. While physical roofs and buildings may be easy to find, a real “home” — a place filled with warmth, love, and belonging — is far rarer.
4. یہ کیا عذاب ہے سب اپنے آپ میں گم ہیں
زبان ملتی ہے لیکن زباں نہیں ملتا
Translation:
What a torment it is that everyone is lost within themselves;
We may find people’s tongues, but never true voices.
Explanation:
This line reflects the loneliness in modern society. Though we communicate with each other, real understanding and meaningful connection are scarce. People speak, but they don’t truly share what’s in their hearts.
5. بجھا سکا ہے بھلا کون وقت کے شعلے
یہ ایسی آگ ہے جس میں دھواں نہیں ملتا
Translation:
Who can ever extinguish the flames of time?
This is a fire that gives off no smoke.
Explanation:
Time’s passing is like an unquenchable fire. Unlike visible fires that produce smoke, time’s “fire” consumes silently, leaving no trace. It signifies the inescapable and often invisible way time erodes everything.
Each couplet offers a philosophical take on human emotions, limitations, and the pursuit of fulfillment in life.