Karun Be-dad-e-zauq-e-par-fishani Arz Kya Qudrat — Mirza Ghalib
Meaning
What complaint can I make to Nature about the cruelty done to my desire to fly, when the very strength of my main wings flew away even before I could take flight?
Explanation
Ghalib plays with a bittersweet irony here: a bird yearns passionately to soar into the open sky, but before it can even beat its wings, its very strength flies away. The clever wordplay around flight makes the tragedy hit harder—the bird remains grounded while its power takes wing and vanishes. It captures the profound grief of harboring boundless ambition, only to find life or exhaustion stripping away our ability to pursue it before we even begin.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
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