Kiya Jo Zabt-e-girya To Kaha Dariya Ko Kooze Mein — Khwaja Haidar Ali Aatish
Meaning
When I restrained my weeping, I confined an entire ocean into a small cup; but whenever I wept with an open heart, that ocean surged and overflowed.
Explanation
This couplet plays with the image of weeping. When the poet holds back his tears, it is as if he has poured a whole river into a tiny cup. The feeling is huge, but he keeps it contained, pressed down inside. But on those rare days when he lets his heart open and weeps freely, it is as if the river bursts out in full force, flooding everything. The idea is that controlled grief hides an ocean of emotion, and once released, that emotion overflows without limit. It is a beautiful way of saying that the pain inside him is vast, far bigger than it seems when he stays silent.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
Audio
Free — just your email. You'll come right back here.
No comments yet. Be the first.