Dam-e-subh Bazm-e-khush-jahan Shab-e-gham Se Kam Na Thi Meharbaan — Mir Taqi Mir
Meaning
O beloved, the breath of dawn and the gathering of joy was no less than the night of sorrow, for you were the lamp and I was the milk; you were the kite and I was the dust.
Explanation
This powerful couplet by Mir Taqi Mir speaks of profound disappointment. He contrasts the hopeful beauty of dawn and a joyous gathering with the lingering sorrow of the night. The second line is a sharp critique: the beloved was supposed to be a steady lamp (chiraag) but was instead intoxicating incense (dood); supposed to be graceful dust (gubaar) but acted like a wild kite (patang). It's a lament for lost ideals and misplaced trust.
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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